Irvine Halts Electrification Plans After Federal Court Overturns Nation’s First Natural Gas Ban

Plans for the City of Irvine to require newly constructed buildings to be fully electric starting next month were postponed by city officials April 25 after a federal ruling shut down similar plans for another city earlier this month.
The Ninth Circuit Court, out of San Francisco, ruled banning natural gas piping in newly constructed buildings a violation of federal law in a lawsuit between the California Restaurant Association and the City of Berkeley.
During discussion on the issue, Irvine Councilwoman Kathleen Treseder asked city staff if there was a way to get around the court ruling.
“I’m hoping for a report of a possible workaround. I’m hearing there might be one from other attorneys,” she said….