From: David Moller
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2022 12:43 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Cc: Cory Bytof <[email protected]>; 'Reyes, Brian' <[email protected]>; Subject: Public Comment for San Rafael Nov 21 City Council Mtg Item 5c Public Comment for November 21, 2022 San Rafael City Council Meeting Item 5c Dear Mayor Kate, San Rafael Councilmembers and Staff:
I’m writing on behalf of the 80 members of the Marin/Sonoma Building Electrification Squad, several of whom live in San Rafael. We urge you to adopt the Ordinance Amending Green Building Codes, Agenda Item 5c.
The goal of the proposed ordinance is straight forward -- to reduce the greenhouse emissions that are driving climate change. The ordinance contains three reach codes that require:
• All-electric for New Construction with reasonable exceptions • Enhanced EV Charger Infrastructure, especially for multifamily dwellings • No increases in current gas infrastructure to single family homes and duplexes beyond what is already installed
San Rafael will be the fifth Marin jurisdictions to adopt All-electric for New Construction and the fourth to adopt Enhanced EV Charger Infrastructure requirements, with several more jurisdictions likely to follow in the first quarter of next year.
Implementation, particularly of the All-electric for New Construction and EV Charger reach codes, isn’t controversial and won’t require additional staff time to implement compared to the California 2022 Building Code updates that San Rafael is required to adopt. Additionally, the Marin County Sustainability Team will be preparing collateral materials to assist the jurisdictions with implementation of these reach codes.
Most of the questions and comments we’ve heard about these reach codes at public meetings haven’t even been about what’s being proposed. Instead, most have been about the potential impacts on existing homeowners – even though existing homes aren’t affected except in the case of a request to increase gas service.
Key facts about what is being proposed are that:
• All-electric for New Construction is cheaper to build and typically cheaper to operate than combined electric and gas.
• Though installing additional EV Charging Infrastructure will add some up-front cost, this should be more than offset by lower fuel and maintenance costs for the increased number of EV owners the additional infrastructure will enable.
• Both MCE and PG&E have confirmed their ability to generate and distribute the electricity needed to support the gradual shift from fossil fuels to electric, which will take a decade or longer to complete.
The All-electric for New Construction and EV Charger reach codes were developed by Marin County in collaboration with all Marin jurisdictions, they have been widely vetted and they are consistent with the recommendations of the Marin Civil Grand Jury Report on Building Electrification.
In conclusion, we urge San Rafael to move ahead with adoption of the three reach codes in the proposed ordinance and to move as quickly as possible to also adopt the Energy Target for Major Renovations reach code developed by Marin County in collaboration with all Marin jurisdictions. These actions will help San Rafael achieve its Climate Action Plan and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
The longer we put off the transition away from fossil fuels, the worse our climate crisis will become. And with comparable state or regional action five to seven years off, it’s up to local jurisdictions to fill the regulatory time gap. In fact, adopting these reach codes is among the few actions local jurisdictions can take to directly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Thank you for your leadership!
David Moller