Hi Barry,
Thanks for your thoughtful remarks.
We are all concerned about the cost of replacing gas so I think the question to ask is: How can we HELP home-owners (and apartment building owners, and business owners) replace the polluting gas appliances with clean, efficient electric models when they renovate or otherwise plan to replace those appliances? This CAN be done in a way that is affordable and efficient. After decades of policies favoring fossil fuels, it will take some time to develop the programs and practices to level the playing field for clean electric appliances. In the meantime we need to move forward with policies that phase out fossil fuel use in homes (and everywhere else) as quickly as possible for the health and safety of the occupants as well as a safe, livable climate.
We're committed to ensuring that nobody is left behind in this effort to phase out fossil fuels -- that low-income households get assistance, that accessible financing is put in place, that the affordable clean, electric appliances are made available, and that no one is held to a clean electric standard if it creates a hardship. We don't expect this transition to be easy, but we know that residents and businesses in Menlo Park will be healthier and safer when polluting natural gas is replaced.
Thanks,
Betsy
[cid:CMP_Email_Logo_100dpi_05d92d5b-e8e3-498f-93a6-d0da509bd602111111111.png]
Betsy Nash
Vice Mayor
City Hall - 2nd Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-380-3986
menlopark.org
On 4/5/21, 1:07 PM, "Barry Robbins" wrote:
Council members: As a long time resident of Menlo Park, and as a citizen concerned/ worried about global warming and climate change , I do agree with the ban on the installation of natural gas appliances in new residential buildings but absolutely disagree with requiring citizens/homeowners of Menlo Park to install an electrical water heater, furnace or other natural gas home appliances should their old natural gas device need replacement. The cost for purchase and installation of electrical devices is exorbitant, especially installation , and in many of the older homes in Menlo Park would require significant monetary expenditure by the homeowner to upgrade the electrical infrastructure to and in the home. Requiring retrofitting of homes with electrical energy to power various equipment now powered by natural gas, is akin to requiring all petroleum powered vehicles to be retrofitted to be all electric powered. An impractical and silly idea. Yes, prohibit the installation of certain gas powered appliances in new construction but not in homes with pre-existent natural gas infrastructure. Barry Robbins. robbinsbarry@hotmail.com. 1340 San Mateo Drive, Menlo Park. 94025
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