From: Katie Davis <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2023 5:50 PM
To: City Clerk Group; Paula Perotte; Kyle Richards; Stuart Kasdin; James Kyriaco; Luz Reyes-Martin Cc: Jonathan Ullman; Michael Chiacos; Dana Murray; Peter Imhof; Angeline Foshay Subject: April 18 - Agenda #C.2 - SUPPORT for Adopting Ordinance for the Prohibition of Fuel Gas Plumbing Infrastructure in Newly Constructed Buildings to Promote Electrification Attachments: Santa Barbara County Orgs Support BE Ordinance 9.30.22.pdf Dear Goleta City Council Members,
Thank you for taking action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution in the building sector. We urge you to vote YES to approve the new health & safety building electrification ordinance as recommended by staff and in alignment with City of Goleta’s 2021‐2023 Strategic Plan and the approach being taken by Carpinteria, the County of Santa Barbara and by the City of Santa Barbara last year. We applaud the regional collaboration and consistency.
Building electrification is a win‐win for your constituents. It is more affordable to build without the added cost of gas lines. And it is more affordable and healthier to live in a home without the air pollution from combustion in and around buildings and with efficient electric appliances that use less energy and cost less to heat and cool than gas equivalents.
There is strong community support for this. Please refer to the attached letter we submitted to the County of Santa Barbara last year supporting building electrification signed by a wide range of local environmental and climate groups, as well as local architects, builders, renewable energy companies, affordable housing experts, and community groups.
The letter also outlines more of the research and benefits behind these ordinances that have already been adopted by at least 75 jurisdictions in California, with more in the works this year.
Regards,
Katie Davis
Chair, Sierra Club Santa Barbara‐Ventura Chapter
805‐451‐4574
1 September 30, 2022
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
105 E Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: 805-681-4200
Submitted via email to [email protected]
RE: October 4, Agenda Item # 2: Building Electrification Ordinance – SUPPORT Dear Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors,
Thank you for your on-going climate leadership in setting the goal of 50% GHG reduction by 2030, carbon neutrality by 2045 or sooner, and adopting early actions while the County’s Climate Action Plan is updated, including implementing a new building electric reach code. We the undersigned fully support the County’s adoption of a building electrification ordinance like the one adopted by the City of Santa Barbara July 27, 2021.
A recent op-ed in the LA Times makes the case that local building code updates like this are one of the most impactful things we can be doing about the climate crisis right now,1 and their editorial board has called for more cities in our region to pass electrification reach codes in light of the 2015 Aliso Canyon gas disaster and the climate-fueled wildfire disasters since then, calling such codes, “essential for cleaner, healthier communities and 1 Climate change is a big problem. Citizens must demand many small solutions (https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-09-18/climate-change-citizen- action-building-codes-energy-efficiency)
2 the planet.”2 By passing a code now, Santa Barbara County is taking an important and timely step to mitigate the climate, health, safety, and housing affordability crisis.
First, by adopting this, unincorporated Santa Barbara County will join a wave of cities and counties across California in declaring that fossil fuels must be phased out of our homes, commercial buildings, and communities, and that we have a right to clean, safe, and affordable energy. Santa Barbara County will not be alone in deciding to phase out gas in new construction. Right now, 60 cities and counties in California have implemented reach codes to shift to all-electric new construction and many more are in consideration.
The ordinance will improve air quality and public health for Santa Barbara County residents. All-electric new construction will improve indoor air quality for county residents. On average, Californians spend 68 percent of their time indoors, making indoor air quality a key determinant of human health.3 The combustion of gas inside our homes produces harmful indoor air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and ultrafine particles.4 These odorless and undetectable gas combustion pollutants can cause respiratory diseases, as well as more serious conditions, including death.5 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently found that air pollution levels in the 55-70 percent of homes with gas stoves exceed EPA’s definition of clean air, i.e. air pollution levels indoors in these homes would be illegal if found outdoors.6 One study found that gas stoves may be responsible for up to 12 percent of childhood asthma cases.7 All-electric new construction will also be key to mitigating outdoor air pollution in California. Hazardous air pollution is a particularly acute issue for low-income communities and people of color, who are exposed to higher incidences of particulate matter (PM 2.5) and other harmful pollutants.8 While most think of trucks, power plants and industry as the major culprits of air pollution, buildings have for too long gotten a free pass. Gas combustion appliances lack modern-day pollution controls and are a major source of air pollution, particularly in the winter from gas heating. Gas appliances in residential and commercial buildings produce nearly nine times more nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than gas power plants.9 Nitrogen oxide is a precursor to ozone and PM 2.5, two pollutants that cause asthma, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and premature death.10 All-electric new construction is an essential step to improving air quality in Santa Barbara County and Southern California as a whole.
The reach code will lower the cost of new construction and support affordable housing. All-electric homes can be cheaper to build 11 than gas-heated buildings — and they can lower monthly utility bills for unincorporated Santa Barbara residents and businesses.12 Ensuring all new construction is built without gas hookups will help developers build more quickly and affordably as there will be no need for new costly gas infrastructure — an advantage in the ongoing housing crisis. An analysis by the Statewide Utility Codes and Standards Team found that building all-electric already reduced construction costs on average $5,000 for single-family homes and over $2,000 per unit in a multi-family building. In addition, the California Public Utilities Commission just announced 2 Times Editorial Board, “Five years after the Aliso Canyon methane leak, California is still too reliant on fossil fuels,” LA Times, October 23, 2020 3 Klepeis, N. E.; Nelson, W. C.; Ott, W. R.; Robinson, J. P.; Tsang, A. M.; Switzer, P.; Behar, J. V; Hern, S. C.; Engelmann, W. H. The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS): a resource for assessing exposure to environmental pollutants. J. Expo. Anal. Environ. Epidemiol. 2001, 11 (3), 231–252. 4 See, Jennifer Logue et al., “Pollutant Exposures from Natural Gas Cooking Burners: A Simulation-Based Assessment for Southern California” Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 122 No. 1 pp. 43-50, (2013); Victoria Klug and Brett Singer.“ Cooking Appliance Use in California Homes—Data Collected from a Web-based Survey.” Lawrence Ventura County National Laboratory (August 2011); John Manuel, “A Healthy Home Environment?” Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 107, No. 7 1999, pp. 352–357; Nasim Mullen et al., “Impact of Natural Gas Appliances on Pollutant Levels in California Homes” Lawrence Ventura County National Laboratory, 2012. 5 CARB, “Combustion Pollutants” (reviewed July 14, 2020). Available at https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/combustion.htm 6 “Pollution in the Home: Kitchens Can Produce Hazardous Levels of Indoor Pollutants” https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2013/07/23/kitchens-can-produce- hazardous-levels-of-indoor-pollutants/
7 “Cooking with gas, damp housing may cause childhood asthma: study ”https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/cooking-with-gas-damp- housing-may-cause-childhood-asthma-study-20180415-p4 z9pz.html 8 “Inequity in consumption of goods and services adds to racial–ethnic disparities in air pollution exposure” https://www.pnas.org/content/116/13/6001 9 “Emission Inventory Data” https://www.arb.ca.gov/ei/emissiondata.htm 10 “Health Effects of Ozone and Particle Pollution” https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/health-risks/ 11 “Decarbonization of Heating Energy Use in California Buildings” https://www.synapse-energy.com/sites/default/files/Decarbonization-Heating-CA- Buildings-17-092-1.pdf
12 “The Economics of Electrifying Buildings” https://rmi.org/insight/the-economics-of-electrifying-buildings/ 3 it is removing subsidies for gas hookups13 meaning that gas expansion in new housing will likely push the price of gas and the cost of new gas homes up even further. Subsidies under the Inflation Reduction ACT will further lower the cost of construction and appliances for new electric homes.
Building all-electric will also save costs for Santa Barbara County residents and businesses in the long-term as we transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Gas distribution pipeline extensions to new homes are expected to become stranded assets14 well before the end of their useful life as more buildings electrify over the coming years.
Stopping investments in new gas infrastructure is a fiscally prudent strategy to avoid saddling ratepayers and taxpayers with the costs of maintaining and ultimately decommissioning stranded gas infrastructure.
The reach code will make unincorporated Santa Barbara County’s homes and businesses safer and more resilient in the face of climate change. California is experiencing an increasing occurrence of extreme heat waves, with practically each summer breaking previously held record temperatures.15 Many Santa Barbara County residents, particularly low-income families, do not have air conditioning and are not prepared to adapt to these heat waves, posing new health and safety risks. Air conditioning is an important bonus from replacing gas furnaces with electric heat pump space heaters, as the heat pumps can operate in reverse and provide high efficiency cooling when needed. Electrification offers greater comfort, safety, and climate resiliency when temperatures peak.
Lastly, gas pipelines are vulnerable to methane leakage, over-pressurization, earthquakes and fires. Aliso Canyon (2015/16), Bakersfield (2015), Carmel (2014), San Bruno (2010), and Rancho Cordova (2008), and recent fires in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and San Francisco are but a few of the important and unfortunate reminders of the gas system’s inherent risks. In our region, gas infrastructure is located in particularly dangerous, populated areas that pose an on-going risk to area residents. For instance, the Ventura Compressor Station that sends gas to Santa Barbara County is located in a populated area next to an elementary school and the La Goleta gas storage field is located on rapidly retreating bluffs and under UCSB with 26,000 students and Goleta Beach with 1.5 million visitors. Given the earthquake faults in California, fires exacerbated by gas pipelines after earthquakes are of significant concern. Communities with gas pipelines in Santa Barbara County face increased risks of fires as gas pipeline leaks are highly flammable. Aging pipelines and associated equipment, and inflexible pipeline materials are vulnerable to shifts in the earth and buildings that put additional stress on pipelines, causing cracks and potentially explosive methane leaks.
Solar panels are already required on new homes. Paring solar with increasingly affordable home batteries make new homes immune to an emergency outage. Moreover, utility-scale batteries have already helped us avoid outages during high demand events and will continue to get more robust. SCE, PG&E and CCCE all support all- electric building ordinances. New homes with all-electric heat pumps are better than separate gas heat and air conditioning on price, quality and load efficiency headed into a climate future.
Passing an all-electric new building ordinance is an appropriate step to do our part in achieving California’s climate goals, including Santa Barbara County’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2045 or sooner.
Electricity in Santa Barbara County is rapidly getting cleaner, with Central Coast Community Energy on track to meet its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030. As a result, shifting to electric power in our buildings dramatically lowers greenhouse gas emissions. The prohibition of new Natural Gas Infrastructure is a crucial part of Santa Barbara County’s future. By mandating gas-free construction for all new buildings, Santa Barbara County will protect the health of its residents and the affordability of its housing, while implementing the critical climate protections necessary for dramatic greenhouse gas reductions. 13 "California becomes first state to eliminate subsidies for gas line extensions amid electrification push" September 2022 https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-puc-gas-subsidies-electrification/632006/ 14 “The 'Rush To Gas' Will Strand Billions As Renewables Get Cheaper, Study Says” https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2018/05/21/the-rush-to-gas-will-cost-billions-in-stranded-assets-as-renewables-get-cheaper-institute- says/#52a7065c3a0d
15 “U.S. sweltered through third-hottest summer on record: August 2022 saw remarkable heat, historic flash floods,” NOAA, September 2022 https://www.noaa.gov/news/us-sweltered-through-third-hottest-summer-on-record 4 Sincerely,
Katie Davis
Chair, Santa Barbara-Ventura Sierra Club
Sigrid Wright
CEO/Executive Director, Community Environmental Council Haley Ehlers
Associate Executive Director, Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG) Nadia Lee Abushanab
Advocacy and Events Director, Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) Linda Krop
Chief Counsel, Environmental Defense Center (EDC)
Pierre Delforge
Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council
Vicki Allen
VP Communications, League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara Charisse Cordero
SB Standing Rock Coalition
Marcos Vargas Ph.D.
Executive Director, THE FUND FOR SANTA BARBARA
Sven Thesen
Founder, ProjectGreenHome.org
Lauren Weston
Executive Director, Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet Katherine Emery, PhD
Executive Director, Santa Barbara Audubon Society
Tomás Morales Rebecchi
Central Coast Organizing Manager, Food and Water Watch
Mike Wondolowski
President, Carpinteria Valley Association
George Relles
Convener, Goleta Goodland Coalition
Keith Carlson
Vice-chair, Indivisible Santa Barbara
Irene Cooke
Member, Fearless Grandmother Society Santa Barbara
5 Alyssa Jain
Actions Lead, Sunrise Movement Santa Barbara
Luca D’Agruma
Political Lead, Sunrise Movement Santa Barbara
Christian Alonso
President, Santa Barbara Young Democrats
Ash Valenti
Eco Vista
Craig Lewis
Executive Director, Clean Coalition
Rebecca August
Chair, Safe Energy Now North County
Stacey Thompson
Co-Chair, Santa Ynez Valley Community Action Alliance
Sharon Broberg
Steering Committee Member, 350 Santa Barbara
Nancy Black
Board President of Committees for Land, Air, Water and Species (CLAWS) Cofounder, Mercury Press
Tara Rizzi, Hon. AIASB
Executive Director, AIA Santa Barbara
Alex Pujo AIA
Pujo & Associates, Inc., Architecture and Planning
Cecilia Villaseñor Johnson
President/CEO, Sun Pacific Solar Electric, Inc
Jeremy Favier
COO & Co-Founder, BRIGHTEN SOLAR CO.
Sean Armstrong,
Managing Principal, Redwood Energy
Shawn Jacobson
Vice President of Operations, Swell Energy Inc.
Rocio Lozano, Executive Director
MERITO: Multicultural Education for Resources Issues Threatening Oceans Margie Bushman & Wes Roe
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
Barbara Wishingrad
6 Executive Director, Sweetwater Collaborative
Chuck Flacks
Principal, Flacks Seed Consulting
Maricela Morales, Executive Director
Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) Leah Stokes
Anton Vonk Professor of Environmental Politics, UCSB
David Pellow
Dehlsen Chair and Distinguished Professor
Environmental Studies Program, University of California, Santa Barbara Karen Brill and Brigitta Van Der Raay
Co-Chairs, Climate Reality, Santa Barbara Chapter
Izabel Martinez
Chapter Chair CALPIRG, UC Santa Barbara
Paul Poirier
AIA, LEED AP, Paul Poirier + Associates Architects
VP Advocacy, USGBC Central Coast Green Building Council Dennis Thompson
FAIA, LEED AP, Architect
Dennis Allen
Chairman of the Board, Allen Construction
Stan Roden
Steering Committee, Citizens Climate Lobby, Santa Barbara Chapter 7
April 14, 2023
Goleta City Council
130 Cremona Dr .
Goleta, CA 93117
Sent via email [email protected]
Re: Agenda Item C.2
Dear Councilmembers,
Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG) is a grassroots environmental nonprofit dedicated to combating the climate crisis by working to shape the transition from fossil fuels to a carbon-free economy on the Central Coast. We are committed to the establishment of an economy that is sustainable, inclusive, and promotes renewable energy. CFROG strongly supports the City of Goleta prohibiting fuel gas infrastructure in new construction to protect the health and safety of our community.
Building electrification is the necessary next step in creating a sustainable, thriving, and healthy community in Goleta. Despite industry’s attempts to market natural gas as a “safe bridge fuel,” it is a fossil fuel, unsafe for our climate and health. Fossil fuel in commercial and residential buildings contribute 24 percent of California’s greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing the burning of natural gas can dramatically improve these emissions.
The long-term costs and impacts of climate change are one thing, but a move to electrification will pay off in the shorter term as well. It helps reduce the cost of single-family and multifamily apartment building construction; creates over one hundred thousand jobs in construction, HVAC installation, and more; and can reduce the average household energy bill by thousands.
There has been increasing research confirming the harmful effects of combustion pollution – including carbon monoxide and formaldehyde – inside homes, leading to asthma and respiratory diseases. Gas lines also increase risk of fires and explosions caused by leaks, particularly after earthquakes. Without an electrification code, renters have little control over the appliances in their homes and the corresponding PO Box 114 ● Ojai, California 93024 ● (805)263-7408 ● [email protected] ● www.cfrog.org CFROG is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization ID# 46-2660066 8
health impacts. This is yet another environmental burden falling on low-income and communities of color .
In addition to protecting the health and safety of Goleta residents directly, this climate-forward move means Goleta can be a better neighbor and ally to the environmental justice community of West Ventura. Areas in Santa Barbara County receive natural gas from the SoCalGas pipelines that run through the Ventura Compressor station, located across the street from E.P . Foster Elementary School and many homes in a low-income and community of color . Compressors like this are known to pose a risk of explosion and this one, in particular, was identified by NASA as a “super emitter” of methane.
Community members and school children experience health problems such as asthma, nosebleeds, headaches, respiratory diseases, and cancer as a result of living nearby. Despite community concerns, SoCalGas is trying to expand this facility. Joining the 60 California cities that have adopted all-electric codes means that Goleta can help directly stand in solidarity with the local frontline communities impacted by natural gas infrastructure.
As a growing city, Goleta has the opportunity to make a major climate-forward contribution to improving the daily lives and futures of residents. The Central Coast is already overwhelmed by fossil fuel infrastructure and we should not be building any more.
With urgency,
Haley Ehlers, Director
9 From: Ellen Hamilton <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2023 8:39 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: I support Item C2, an ordinance to prohibit natural gas in new construction As a voting Goleta resident, I strongly support item C2, a health and safety ordinance prohibiting natural gas in new construction. Electric new buildings will help prevent climate change, reduce costs, and improve health. It's the right move.
Ellen Hamilton
7005 Scripps Crescent St
Goleta CA 93117
10 From: Brett Garrett <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2023 2:45 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: City Council: Support Building Electfification (item C.2, ban natural gas in new construction) Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers,
Please support Agenda Item 3.2 to prohibit so‐called natural gas infrastructure in new construction.
This proposed policy is a crucial step toward achieving the City's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also reduces indoor pollution and sets a good example for other cities and counties.
I am pleased that Goleta is joining the 65+ California cities and counties that have already passed all‐electric ordinances, including the Central Coast cities of Santa Barbara, Ojai, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz, as well as Ventura County. A list of these jurisdictions is available here:
https://localenergycodes.com/content/adopted‐ordinances I trust you are aware that Central Coast Community Energy offers many resources to assist the City with implementing this policy along with other important Reach Codes such as mandating electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Please see more information here:
https://centralcoastreachcodes.org/
Sincerely,
Brett Garrett
7190 Davenport Road, Apt 206
Goleta, CA 93117
11 From: Barbara Greenleaf <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2023 7:08 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Going all-electric
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organizaƟon. Do not click links or open aƩachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Sir/Madam:
I strongly support eliminaƟng fossil fuels in Goleta. What a wonderful example you would set for the region by mandaƟng all‐electric in new structures. It would make for a more healthful environment for local residents and add to the slowing of global warming.
Sincerely,
Barbara Greenleaf
President, ECO Team
“Noleta” resident
12 From: Dennis Allen <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2023 7:50 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Ending fossil fuel in new construction
I urge you to end use of fossil fuels in new buildings. The InternaƟonal Panel on Climate Change warned that this is our last chance to change course if we are to keep a planet that is somewhat livable. If we don’t do this, none of the other issues is really going to maƩer. Thank you for your consideraƟon.
Dennis Allen
Dennis Allen
Board Chairman, LEED AP
Direct: 805.331.2120 | Office: 805.884.8777 | Email: [email protected] BUILDALLEN.COM
13 From: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2023 11:59 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Electrification ordinance.
Mayor PeroƩe and council members,
I am a local Architect working in Santa Barbara since 1983. I urge you to support the all‐electric new building ordinance that will prohibit the use of natural gas in new construcƟon in the City of Goleta. It is imperaƟve to minimize greenhouse emissions now.
Best regards,
‐Alex
Alex Pujo AIA
Pujo & Associates, Inc.
Architecture and Planning
2425 Chapala Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
www.pujo.net
(805) 637-7384
14 From: BILL WOODBRIDGE <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2023 11:18 PM
To: City Clerk Group; Paula Perotte; Dawn Christensen; [email protected]; Stuart Kasdin; Kyle Richards; Luz Reyes-Martin
Subject: all electric ordinance for new construction and the major problems at Patterson Place Dear Goleta City Councilpersons:
I urge you to PLEASE vote in favor of the all electric ordinance for new construcƟon. I only wish that it would also apply to exisƟng construcƟon when interior permits are required for upgrades. I had to shut the gas wall heater off because the fumes were giving me headaches and asthma, so I’ve had no heat in my apartment this enƟre very cold winter. The stove is also gas which I have no choice but to use to cook, and that also causes me problems.
I am a senior resident tenant of Goleta at the PaƩerson Place apartments, which is now a “disaster zone” of construcƟon remodeling causing loud disturbing noise (cement sawing and jack hammers) every weekday (right outside my window) which will go on for another 4 ‐ 5 months. None of the 50+ year old apartments in this 166+ unit complex have fans/vents over the gas stoves which vent fumes to the outside. They are all just fake fans that only recirculate the gas fumes back into your face. It is my understanding that if permits to upgrade or remodel kitchens are obtained, they must also upgrade the fan/vents to current code, which would be to vent them to the outside. Commencing May 1, and over the next 5 months, Towbes is forcing 4+ tenants at a Ɵme to move out of their units for up to 5 days while contractors completely re‐plumb/bypass the old leaking and breaking water lines in the slabs and aƫcs requiring new pipes in the walls of all units. But they have no intenƟon to replace fake fans above the gas stoves or gas wall heaters with heat pumps.
This temporary forced move‐out leaves us without access to our landline phones/faxes, copy machines, DVRs, food, utensils, clothing, etc. They are providing alternate “suites” on site for us to “camp‐out in”, but we will be without all of the aforemenƟoned necessiƟes and cut off from our landline phone/faxes, copy machines, etc.. This company does not care one hoot about the consequences, inconvenience, disturbances and loss of amenity faciliƟes that they are causing tenants to suffer through (long term loss of ameniƟes that we pay for). All of the common area grounds/lawns/pool/bbq/spa etc., ameniƟes have been fenced off. This has already been going on for 4 months. They are doing this at tenants' “expense”/inconveniences. They only care about increasing the value of their property. While puƫng us through this, they have broken from their tradiƟon of limiƟng annual rent increases to 5%, and are now increasing rents by 10% upon renewals. I hope your permiƫng department will force them to upgrade the fans above stoves to vent to the outside as is apparently required by code when interior upgrades are permiƩed.
The noƟce (of mandatory temporary move‐outs) they just delivered to our doors leaves me with only 2 weeks to locate another suitable rental before I must sign my intent to either renew my lease or move out on May 31st. That is an unreasonable expectaƟon in this Ɵght rental market. We were all forced to sign an addendum in our lease agreeing not to sue Towbes for this construcƟon nightmare, so now we are between a rock and a hard place.
I would appreciate your forwarding this informaƟon to the City AƩorney for his urgent consideraƟon about this issue which is aff ecƟng at least 260 individual tenants. I can email the dated noƟce and move‐out schedules to him if he is interested.
Thank you!
Bill Woodbridge
56 S Pa erson Ave. #207, 93111 805-679-5372 a er 9:30AM please 15 From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 8:28 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: 4/18 Agenda Item C.2: I Support All-Electric New Buildings for Goleta CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organizaƟon. Do not click links or open aƩachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Mayor and City Council,
I am excited to hear that Goleta could be the next municipality to adopt an ordinance requiring new buildings to be all‐ electric. This is an important step towards a sustainable future for our grandchildren and the planet. As a life‐long asthma paƟent, I am also aware of the health and safety benefits of such measures.
Please pass this ordinance and give me yet another reason to be proud to live in Goleta! Irene Cooke
374 Moreton Bay Lane #2
Sent from my iPhone
16 From: Marjorie Rogalski <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 8:40 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Agenda item C2
I strongly encourage passing the All Electric ordinance. Its imperative that we phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible and we have the technology to replace these appliances and hvac systems. As the price of solar comes down, more individual residents and businesses can and should install solar. The recent IRA legislation will help fund the transition to renewable energy at all levels--commercial and utility scale as well as individuals.
Goleta and the rest of the state should leverage this investment in renewable energy to ensure cleaner air, less pollution, and investment in the jobs and technology of the future that is coming quickly.
Marjorie Rogalski
1280 Via Brigitte, 93111
17 From: Christian <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 9:20 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Agenda Item #C.2: Public comment from Goleta resident Dear City Clerk,
First, thank you VERY much for your hard work and dedication to serving our community!!! We all really appreciate you, and know your jobs must be very difficult.
I'm a resident of Goleta, along with a wife and two small kids. My wife and I ‐‐ along with every neighbor that I know, which are many, feel VERY strongly that our beautiful city of Goleta should pass the all‐electric ordinances. One reason is that I really wish my own home, which has a gas water heater and stove, and also heats our air with gas, was electric.
I've been struggling to find the funds to switch to all electric, and when I've reached out to HVAC providers, not a single one (out of three) really knew how to switch to a heat pump. This was about a year ago, and maybe things have improved, but if homes are mandated to be built this way, no one will have to struggle to upgrade ‐‐ this is going to take us years to do, and in the meantime we'll be paying the extremely high gas bills that increase air pollution in and outside our home, and also make climate change worse, when it's critical we improve that situation.
I'd also like to strongly request (this is a VERY strong desire also shared by all our neighbors) that Goleta do everything in its power to get the airport to scale back its flights. The pollution, the noise ‐‐ these things harm our community and environment. Please, please do everything you can to help improve our community and environment for us now and for our collective future.
Thank you again for your hard work serving our community, and the very best to you and your families! Christian Thomas
Goleta, CA 93117
18 From: Katherine Carmichael <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 9:39 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Agenda Item #C.2 Public Comment
Good morning,
I hope this email finds you well.
I'm writing to submit a public comment on agenda item #C.2, the vote on an all‐electric ordinance for new construction.
I support requiring all new construction to be all‐electric. The climate crisis is happening now and I'm proud to know that Goleta is a leader in the fight to protect the environment. As such, Goleta must continue its climate leadership by requiring all new buildings to be all electric. Commercial and residential buildings are the #2 source of greenhouse gas emissions in California, second only to transportation. Additionally, electrifying buildings has a great improvement on public health. Natural gas appliances pollute indoor air and are linked to things like asthma and lung cancer. In the interest of public health and protecting the environment, please require an all‐electric building standard for new buildings.
Thank you for your time and for your commitment to public service.
Sincerely,
Katherine Carmichael
Zip code: 93117
19 From: Robert F Else <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 11:23 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: I support the Electrification Ordinance for new construction To The Goleta City Council:
I strongly support an Electrification Ordinance for new construction. As a recent former Goleta resident and rental property owner, I have 2 main reasons:
(1) the perils of natural gas usage by tenants
(2) and the environmental costs of continued fossil fuel usage I urge you to pass this ordinance.
Thank you,
Robert Else
1914 Santa Barbara St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
20 From: Daniela Schulman <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 11:30 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Comment in support of Item #C.2
Dear Goleta City Council,
I am a voting resident of Goleta (zip code 93117) and I strongly support Item #C.2 for all‐electric new construction. As a clean energy policy researcher at UCSB, I know that switching to efficient electric appliances and powering them with clean electricity from renewable sources is one of the most impactful actions we can take to lower carbon pollution and address climate change. When I combust fossil fuels in my home on my gas stove I worry about indoor air pollution and its impact on my health. This ordinance is good for the environment and for our health, so let's join the California jurisdictions leading the way on climate and clean electrification with this ordinance! All the best,
Dani
Daniela Schulman (she/her), B.S.
ENVENT Lab Manager, Prof. Leah Stokes
21 From: yamchin <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 12:42 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: electification transition
City clerk of Goleta ‐‐
Re: transition away from natural gas to electrification Message: change or die
‐‐ken yamamoto
22 From: Marco Palombo <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 3:23 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: 4/18 Agenda Item C.2: I Support All-Electric New Buildings for Goleta Dear Mayor and City Council,
I’m honestly surprised there is any doubt regarding the need to remove natural gas from new residenƟal developments in Goleta. I doubt anyone involved in making this decision is unaware of the growing negaƟve effects of climate change and the fact that these negaƟve effects are obviously the result of combusƟng fossil fuels (which natural gas obviously is). I will point out something that was less obvious to me which is that combusƟng gas inside a home for cooking of space/water heaƟng severely impacts the air quality in that space. In many cases this effect can be severe enough to bring indoor air quality out of compliance with the clean air act. These claims I’m making are supported by the California Air Resource Board, which is obviously an authority regarding things like air in California, which since this enƟre email is staƟng the obvious I'll go ahead and remind you Goleta is in California. I understand gas companies have done all sorts of great lobbying and PR to try to distract us from the fact that stopping the use of their products is essenƟal for our present and future well being, but I trust you as intelligent, well meaning, and not corrupt representaƟves for the people of Goleta will not pay this propaganda and markeƟng any mind and make the right decision, which to reiterate once again is to vote for us to ban the use of natural gas in new buildings in Goleta.
Thanks for doing the right thing.
Best,
Marco
23 April 17, 2023
Dearest Mayor and City Council:
Another engagement prevents me from aƩending the City Council meeƟng this Tuesday, 4/18. However, please allow me to share some thoughts regarding Item C.2 prohibiƟng natural gas in future building construcƟon. Please consider these points in your discussions:
1. The majority of Goleta residents probably do not want this policy. How you ga uge the community response to this proposal is highly essenƟal to verify you are even moving in a direcƟon the community wants to go. Please do so. It almost belongs on a ballot. In my personal opinion, we do not want energy opƟons taken away by gove
rnment mandate.
2. Nothing should ever be taken away without providing something as good or beƩer in its place. And no, electricity is not as good or beƩer than natural gas. I’ve lived in an all‐electric home and seen firsthand how lousy electric sto
ves are as well as electric heaƟng. Many people living in those all‐electric homes converted to natural gas aŌerwards due to cost and quality issues with using electricity for everything. Electricity is not a one‐ size‐fits‐all energy soluƟon.
3. Any reducƟon in natural ga
s usage should be the result of natural market forces and customer choices, not a government mandate. Should a local business choose not to use natural gas, nobody can force them to. They simply turn off the service and move on. Let’s allow our local businesses the freedom to choose their energy st
rategy without our local government making that choice for them. Let obsolete energy technologies die a natural death in their own Ɵme. Don’t push them off the cliff.
4. There is much fear, panic, and overreacƟon regarding the topic of climate change. It would be ver y easy at this point to force ideas that have not been fully veƩed for a problem that is not even fully understood. There is a lot of noise around this topic making research and thoughƞul conversaƟons difficult. In the specific case of natural gas, a compelling case sƟ
ll has not been made to show it presents any kind of criƟcal problem which must be addressed immediately.
5. Please consider, any government’s primary duty is to preserve or improve the quality of life for all members of the community which they govern. If we keep this duty fro nt and center, it will help filter out the poor ideas
that come up from Ɵme to Ɵme. Let’s not take things away. Let’s allow the creaƟve energies of our society to surprise us with new ideas which will ulƟmately displace those less perfect. AdopƟng this str ategy will allow perceived climate issues to fade away into insignificance.
Don’t Panic!
Most sincerely yours,
Dave Roman
Goleta, CA
24 From: Erika Zollett <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 4:49 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: 4/18 Agenda Item C.2: I Support All-Electric New Buildings for Goleta Dear Mayor and City Council,
I am a Goleta resident, living in a new condo in the Tree Farm Community. I would have liked to be at meeting to discuss the all-electric ordinance, but unfortunately, I am home with a sick child. I am writing in full support of the all-electric ordinance.
I wish this ordinance had been passed
before the Tree Farm Community was built.
There are a
number of reasons I support this ordinance. For starters, recent research shows that gas stoves produce toxic levels of gases that if outdoors, would not be permitted. These emissions threaten my health, those of my family, and are also not good for our planet.
Adding natural gas in commercial and residential buildings are also inconsistent with California’s
goal of carbon neutrality as burning natural gas makes up a large portion of emissions that come from buildings. Many jurisdictions, including Santa Barbara and Ojai, have adopted all-electric ordinances. Further
actions are needed to reduce or
halt climate impacts from burning fossil
fuels.
Finally, living in Santa Barbara and Goleta are
already expensive and for
cing many families out of
the area. Gas hook ups are expensive and drive home prices up even more, further fueling our area’s
housing affordability crisis. Renters also cannot choose the appliances in their home and
therefore, cannot
make the choice to mitigate danger
ous health risks from gas appliances.
Please vote in support of this all-electric
ordinance. Building all-electric is more affordable, safer for occupants, and more sustainable.
Sincere
ly,
Erika Zollett
Goleta Resident & Program Manager, UCSB Environmental Leadership Incubator --
Erika Zollett
Environmental Leadership Incubator
Program Manager
Environmental
Studi es
she/her
Email:
[email protected]
25 April 17th, 2023
Goleta City Council
130 Cremona Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
Re: Agenda Item #C.2, Prohibition of Fuel Gas Infrastructure in New Buildings Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers,
Community Environmental Council (CEC), founded in 1970, is a local environmental nonprofit whose mission is to advance rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis. CEC supports the staff recommendation to pass an ordinance to prohibit natural gas in new construction, additions and major alterations.
All-electric new building construction is the future, with 74 California jurisdictions including the City of Santa Barbara, City of San Luis Obispo, City of Ojai, and County of Ventura having adopted such an ordinance. The City of Carpinteria unanimously passed a first reading of such an ordinance last week, and the County of Santa Barbara is expected to do so in a few weeks.
There are numerous co-benefits to transitioning new construction to be all-electric, including:
• All-electric buildings are more affordable to construct and more efficient to operate, which is of particular importance during this time of rising housing and fuel costs. • All-electric buildings have improved indoor air quality and health outcomes, and are safer to live in.
• All-electric buildings are more sustainable as they can be powered with 100% clean and renewable electricity instead of using natural gas, which is a nonrenewable fossil fuel.
California’s electric system is becoming cleaner every year with higher renewable portfolio standards increasing to a goal of 100% clean and renewable by 2045. CEC applauds the City of Goleta for making progress well ahead of this mandate. In 2018, Goleta set a goal, which CEC supported, of moving to 100% renewable electricity by 2030. This is quickly becoming a reality
26 as Central Coast Community Energy, which serves Goleta, is moving rapidly to their goal of 60% clean and renewable electricity by 2025 and 100% clean and renewable by 2030 by signing contracts for new build solar, wind, geothermal, and energy storage. This will ensure new buildings and electric vehicles are powered by zero emission electricity.
Central Coast Community Energy also has programs to encourage all-electric construction, including incentives that local residents and home-builders can take advantage of. Currently they offer $5,000/unit for homeowners constructing all-electric ADUs, and $2,500/unit up to $240,000 per project for Affordable Housing Developments and Farmworker Housing. They also offer rebates for heat pumps for customers looking to retrofit their existing buildings, as well as technical support and resources for cities such as Goleta, who are developing all-electric ordinances.
The City of Goleta staff have done an exemplary job of working with the County of Santa Barbara and City of Carpinteria to coordinate development of their all-electric codes, harmonize codes to ensure regional consistency, and provide stakeholders and the public ample opportunity for input with dozens of public outreach meetings and workshops. The ordinance language itself is well thought out, with a 50% trigger point for major alterations and additions, reasonable but limited exemptions, and electric readiness for qualifying exemptions that will save significant retrofit funds in the long term as more California buildings move toward all-electric.
Local solar energy generation requirements on new buildings and storage systems are improving energy reliability and resilience. New highly-efficient heat pump and electric appliance technology is increasingly being adopted. Now is an opportune time to transition away from fossil fuels in new buildings and CEC strongly supports the City of Goleta to adopt a prohibition on natural gas for new construction.
Sincerely,
Michael Chiacos
Director of Climate Policy
27 From: Carolyn Chaney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 7:02 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: 4/18 Agenda Item C.2: I Support All-Electric New Buildings for Goleta Dear Mayor and City Council,
I support all‐electric new buildings for Goleta because we are in a climate emergency and need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Heat pumps are a great way to heat and cool our homes in an efficient manner, and rebates are available through our SB County’s 3C REN participation. Let’s publicize this program.
Carolyn Chaney
"Tell me, what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” John Muir 28 From: Torrie Cutbirth <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 10:07 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Submitting public comment - Please go electric today! Dear City Clerk and City of Goleta Councilmembers,
My name is Torrie Cutbirth, a Santa Barbara native. I submit a public comment today to urge you to support the all‐ electric ordinance for City of Goleta. Please help our community transition to clean energy so I can have hope for a livable future in the face of climate change. According to IPCC, we only have 7 years left to make bold changes in our local economies to avoid the worst and inevitable impacts of climate change! There are innume
rable reasons why our community must transition to a clean, green, regenerative economy. Supporting the all‐electric ordinance is consistent with CA's carbon neutrality goal by 2045. 74 California jurisdictions, including the cities of Ojai and Santa Barbara, and the County of Ventura have adopted all‐electric ordinances.
Additional benefits below.
Cost: Forgoing gas hookups can save thousands of dollars in construction costs, and reports from the California Energy Commission show that all‐electric buildings across nearly all types of construction cost slightly less than mixed‐fuel counterparts, which is of vital importance with California’s housing affordability crisis.
Health and Safety: A recent study found that 60% of homes in the state that cook at least once a week with a gas stove produce toxic levels of nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide exceeding federal standards for outdoor air quality. New all‐electric development will be healthier and safer for residents, as there is no gas combustion inside the home, which can lead to asthma and other health issues.
Sustainability: Fossil fuels, like natural gas found in commercial and residential buildings, are incompatible with the State's goal of carbon neutrality. Buildings contribute to 24% of California's greenhouse gas emissions, and much of that comes from burning natural gas.
Equity: Renters may not have control of the appliances in their home and therefore do not have agency over experiencing the health impacts mentioned above. There is also momentum in multi‐family projects moving to all‐ electric.
In Community,
Torrie Cutbirth (she/her/hers)
Director of Grants & Programs
El Gato Channel Foundation & Adrian
Family Foundation
735 State Street, Suite 511 Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Living and working on unceded Chumash lands and waters
805-453-6351 (c)
29 From: Christie <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 11:55 AM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: tonights meeting
Hello, I would like to add a comment on the moving to all electric for homes and businesses. I know you believe this is important, but I disagree. I have been living with gas appliances for more than 70 years and there is no proof that this causes illnesses to anyone. Or that it harms the environment. You are taking away our right to choose how to cook, heat our home, dry our clothes for no improvement in our lives. Why is Goleta on the bandwagon to go along with what others are doing without tremendous proof that it makes a world of difference? Let people make their own choice, but still allow a choice. Otherwise we become like a communist country with NO choices.
Thank you,
Christie DeGiacomi
30 Agenda Item C.2 23-143 Adopt an Ordinance for the Prohibition of Fuel Gas Plumbing Infrastructure. Page - 1 D. GAUGHEN
Goleta, CA 93117
April 18, 2023
To: The Mayor and Council Members
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, CA 93117
Subj: Review of Agenda Item “C.2 23-143 Adopt an Ordinance for the Prohibition of Fuel Gas Plumbing Infrastructure in Newly Constructed Buildings to Promote Electrification and Determine the Project to be Exempt from CEQA,” meeting date April 18, 2023.
Dear Madam Mayor and Council Members:
I have reviewed the staff report for the subject matter. It appears Natural Gas is used in the following industrial applications, per https://www.ngsa.org/industrial-uses-of-natural-gas/ with screenshot presented below. In general, this industrial sector requires annual business licenses, generates taxable income, and participates in producing products that are a part of our ever-day life.
Additionally, retail burger chains, including many other restaurants that prefer natural gas for cooking, are generally required to include sales tax with purchase whether the food is hot, cold, to go, or served onsite (see screenshot below per https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/industry/restaurant.htm#Topics ). Furthermore, the
article at https://www.eatthis.com/burger-fast-food-chains-grill-burgers/ , details “6 Burger Chains That Actually Grill Their Burgers” (i.e., use Natural Gas to grill their burgers) with two located within Goleta, 31 Agenda Item C.2 23-143 Adopt an Ordinance for the Prohibition of Fuel Gas Plumbing Infrastructure. Page - 2 Carls Jr & The Habbit Burger Grill, and the most famous, Burger King, with their Flame-Broiled Whopper having six locations within Oxnard.
scal impacts related to this item.”
Clearly, as identified above, there are significant fiscal impacts related to this ordinance such as the loss of future Measure B sales tax revenue by prohibiting burger franchise and other restaurants that prefer cooking with natural gas from expansion into the City of Goleta, if new development is desired. A similar loss of future revenue may also occur if the City prohibits the future development of manufacturing and industrial facilities that desire to employ natural gas.
adopting an all-electric reach code or modify the proposed draft ordinance.” As such, please modify the proposed draft ordinance, prior to adoption, in an attempt to expand the exemption category to include retail food preparation, building and infrastructure material manufacturing, and other consumer goods manufacturing and processing, if deemed appropriate.
Respectfully,
D. Gaughen
32 From: Katie Davis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 4:29 PM
To: City Clerk Group; Paula Perotte; Kyle Richards; Stuart Kasdin; James Kyriaco; Luz Reyes-Martin Cc: Jonathan Ullman; Michael Chiacos; Dana Murray; Peter Imhof; Angeline Foshay Subject: Re: April 18 - Agenda #C.2 - SUPPORT for Adopting Ordinance for the Prohibition of Fuel Gas Plumbing Infrastructure in Newly Constructed Buildings to Promote Electrification Dear Goleta City Council Members,
I wanted to send a quick update given the recent ruling. We have spoken with our legal experts and we en courage you to move forward with your BE ordinance tonight.
Current situation is that Berkeley won their case at the District Court but lost in front of a 3‐judge panel at the 9th Circuit Court of appeals. The 3‐judge panel with 2 Trump‐appointed judges and one Reagan‐appointed judge was not representative of the full 9th Circuit, and if the full 9th Circuit takes the case, the ruling is likely to be reversed. The U.S.
Department of Justice and 8 State A ttorney General's sided with Berkeley.
Berkeley has 14 days to appeal, which they will do, and if the full court takes the case, it will go on for months. The Ordinances in dozens of jurisdictions are still in effect during this time period and will not become unenforceable until appeals are exhausted and unless the current ruling stands. There are indications that the full 9th Circuit Court will hear the case given the varying interpretations of the federal act. We are optimistic that Berkely will prevail.
Given all of this, the time invested by Goleta, and the strong public comments of support for the Ordinance, we recommend that Goleta go ahead and move forward with the Ordinance.
There is no risk to Goleta and nothing gained by waiting. It is already being litigated in Berkeley. Worst case is that this latest ruling stands, in which case Goleta may need to amend the Ordinance in the future.
Regards,
Katie Davis
33