Last January, the County Board of Supervisors amended the 2019 California Energy Code to require newly constructed buildings such as residential buildings (both single and multi-family), free-standing housing units with ancillary services, hotels, offices, and retail-electr. Restaurants are exempt.

According to the staff report by Moraga Associate Planner Mio Mendez and Planning Director Afshan Hamid on April 12, “An all-electric building is defined as a building that has no natural gas or propane lines installed in the building and that uses electricity solely as the energy source for space heating (including space heating of all interior and exterior areas of the building), water heating (including heating of indoor and outdoor pools and spas), cooking appliances and clothes dryers Solar thermal pool heating.”

Additionally, “The all-electric building code was introduced due to the local climatic, geographic, topographical, and environmental conditions of Contra Costa County.”

The county points to the many benefits of an all-electric new construction ordinance, as it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change and its hazards; Reducing the cost of new construction (piping and meters); other Contra Costa County greenhouse gas emission targets; Implementing County Board of Supervisors’ Climate Emergency Resolution No. 2020/256; and help improve safety and air quality.

California Senate Bill 350 requires companies like MCE and Pacific Gas and Electric to incorporate contingency planning related to resource planning and load forecasting to guide customers through peak usage periods without disrupting service.

In an August 31, 2022 Lamorinda Weekly article, “Health Benefits of Induction Cooking as Opposed to Gas Stove Tops Presented,” explained Dr. Marjaneh Moini, board member of the San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility, some of the health risks associated with gas cooking indoors. Three types of emissions can be particularly harmful. NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) is a pollutant that can cause eye, nose and throat irritation when inhaled and potentially impair lung function by contributing to asthma, respiratory infections and negative general cognitive function. CO (carbon monoxide) is harmful when inhaled, causing neurological effects and decreased general cognitive function. PM2.5/PMO.1 (particulate matter) also causes neurological effects; aggravates asthma and reduces lung function; and contributes to heart attacks and premature death. While these involve large doses, constant submission can be harmful over time, especially for children, Moini said.

Demian Hardman, senior planner for the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, attended the April 12 council meeting to clarify any misunderstandings or points of confusion. Regarding the terminology of what constitutes a “new build,” Hardman explained that if the renovation is significant enough, if 50% or more of the building is modified or altered, the county considers it a new build and an all-electric building code will be enforced .

However, Mayor Renata Sos noted that “this does not affect my ability as a homeowner to swap out my gas appliances for new ones. That can change if the state says ‘no’. If the renovation is equivalent to a new building, it would be used.

“We have some local control here,” Sos added. “We are able to act. We are agile. We are flexible. We can. I’m not a fan of making exceptions locally or whether there should be exceptions.”

The city council provided feedback to employees so they could develop an ordinance that would pass the 2022 California building code either identical to or similar to the county’s all-electric building code.