There is currently discussion surrounding the potential ban on natural gas in Illinois.
A new bill has been proposed by a Democratic lawmaker, aiming to prohibit the use of natural gas in newly constructed buildings.
State Senator Celina Villanueva, a Democrat from Chicago, has introduced Senate Bill 3935, known as the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act.
According to Villanueva, it is imperative that we take action to minimize pollution in our buildings and initiate a controlled shift towards cost-effective clean energy alternatives.
The idea of heating homes with electricity has sparked a heated debate among Chicagoans since it was proposed to the city council. According to Ald. Gilbert Villegas, the cost of heating a home with electricity is significantly higher.
Villegas expressed concern about the timing of the ordinance, stating that it is the worst possible time to rush through it without considering the true costs, especially when tens of thousands of Chicagoans are already without electricity during the winter’s freezing temperatures.
According to Villegas, implementing a ban on natural gas would lead to a significant increase in electricity costs, especially affecting low-income residents in Illinois.
California was the first state in the country to implement a ban on natural gas, but this initiative was eventually overridden by federal law. This has paved the way for numerous legal battles to unfold across the nation.
The city of Palo Alto, California, recently made changes to its building code. Originally, the code mandated that all new buildings must be fully electric. However, following the decision made by Berkeley, the city has decided to withdraw this requirement. This move by Palo Alto could potentially set a precedent for other municipalities to follow suit and reconsider their own all-electric mandates.
According to a statement from the American Gas Association, banning natural gas, which has played a crucial role in driving environmental progress, would result in consumers bearing substantial costs without significant environmental benefits.
