Dear Mayor Combs and Council Members,
As I work towards stronger statewide climate goals every day in the Legislature, I am proud of what my home town, Menlo Park, has accomplished. Under your leadership on climate action, Menlo Park adopted the strongest Climate Action Plan in California last year, and now you are considering bold new actions to deliver on that plan. The actions you take in Menlo Park - and that neighboring cities adopt - provide an example for progress towards zero carbon statewide.
The recent IPCC report confirms that we need to take aggressive action to address the climate crisis, which includes swiftly transitioning away from the use of fossil fuels in homes and buildings. In fact, the report spotlights the importance of reducing methane emissions over the next few years to avert the worst impacts of climate change (note that "natural gas" is mostly comprised of methane). The gravity of the climate crisis calls for everyone to work together to rapidly transition away from methane gas use in buildings.
My work to advance climate progress in Sacramento includes support for building decarbonization through my bill SB 68, which aims to reduce barriers for electrifying heating, cooking, vehicle charging and more. Local efforts to phase out gas dovetail nicely with this legislative effort. I’m grateful for the efforts of city staff and the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) to present a new approach to phasing out fossil fuels in our community. I support the EQC recommendations to find ways to transition away from methane gas use as gas-powered appliances are replaced, along with programs and policies to ensure equity, provide renter protections, and ease the transition in Menlo Park.
I supported Menlo Park’s all-electric reach code a few years ago, and was pleased to see so many other cities adopt similar electric requirements for new construction. This is a great example of local clean energy policies helping the whole state move in the right direction, as we saw with the recent update to state energy codes now strongly favoring all-electric new construction.
Menlo Park has the opportunity to lead again, by phasing out methane gas use in our homes and buildings. As we witness another year of devastating wildfires, hazardous air quality, severe drought, the code red for humanity warning of the latest IPCC report is obvious. We must work together to address the climate crisis.
Please continue developing this important climate measure to phase out methane gas. I’m confident that Menlo Park can lead the way again and appreciate the foresight of this Council to do that.
Sincerely,
Josh Becker
Menlo Park resident and State Senator, District 13
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