BACKGROUND: Natural gas has long been promoted as a "bridge fuel", to use while renewables are not yet widely in place. The reason is that it burns more cleanly than oil and coal. But a new study published on July 19, 2023, in Environmental Research Letters, states that this "bridge" status is not warranted. The problem is that there are now significantly larger estimates of the climate damages caused by the leakage of natural gas, at the wellheads, all along the distribution pipes, and in our homes.
We all need to switch from fossil fuels, including natural gas, to fossil-free electricity as quickly as possible to heat our homes and buildings. At the local level, the "low-hanging-fruit" is to change city regulations to prohibit gas lines from being installed in new construction. Instead, electric heat pumps fed by clean electricity should be installed.
ACTION: Urge your mayor or town manager to move to change your city regulations to prohibit laying gas lines into new residential and commercial construction. Mention that the purchase and installation of electric heat pumps cost no more than gas furnaces and are cheaper to operate. Making these changes is an important part of our plan to stabilize the climate.
CONTACT:
Your mayor or city/town manager by phone or letter or leave a message on his/her website.
Please write a letter-to-the-editor on this important issue.
It is a good way to educate others and build support for needed policies.
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