12.80.010 Findings and Purpose.
In addition to the findings set forth in Resolution No. 67,736-N.S., the Council finds and expressly declares as follows:
A. Scientific evidence has established that natural gas combustion, procurement and transportation produce significant greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change.
B. The following addition to the Berkeley Municipal Code is reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geologic and topographical conditions as listed below:
(1)As a coastal city located on the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley is vulnerable to sea level rise, and human activities releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere cause increases in worldwide average temperature, which contribute to melting of glaciers and thermal expansion of ocean water--resulting in rising sea levels.
(2)Berkeley is already experiencing the repercussions of excessive greenhouse gas emissions as rising sea levels threaten the City’s shoreline and infrastructure, have caused significant erosion, have increased impacts to infrastructure during extreme tides, and have caused the City to expend funds to modify the sewer system.
(3)Berkeley is situated along a wildland-urban interface and is extremely vulnerable to wildfires and firestorms, and human activities releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere cause increases in worldwide average temperature, drought conditions, vegetative fuel, and length of fire seasons.
(4)Structures in Berkeley are located along or near the Hayward fault, which is likely to produce a large earthquake in the Bay Area.
C. The following addition to the Berkeley Municipal Code is also reasonably necessary because of health and safety concerns as Berkeley residents suffer from asthma and other health conditions associated with poor indoor and outdoor air quality exacerbated by the combustion of natural gas.
D. The people of Berkeley, as codified through Measure G (Resolution No. 63,518-N.S.), the City of Berkeley Climate Action Plan (Resolution No. 64,480-N.S.), and Berkeley Climate Emergency Declaration (Resolution No. 68,486-N.S.) all recognize that rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society are required to limit global warming and the resulting environmental threat posed by climate change, including the prompt phasing out of natural gas as a fuel for heating and cooling infrastructure in new buildings.
E. Substitute electric heating and cooling infrastructure in new buildings fueled by less greenhouse gas intensive electricity is linked to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and is cost competitive because of the cost savings associated with all-electric designs that avoid new gas infrastructure.
F. All-electric building design benefits the health, welfare, and resiliency of Berkeley and its residents.
G. The most cost-effective time to integrate electrical infrastructure is in the design phase of a building project because building systems and spaces can be designed to optimize the performance of electrical systems and the project can take full advantage of avoided costs and space requirements from the elimination of natural gas piping and venting for combustion air safety.
H. It is the intent of the council to eliminate obsolete natural gas infrastructure and associated greenhouse gas emissions in new buildings where all-electric infrastructure can be most practicably integrated, thereby reducing the environmental and health hazards produced by the consumption and transportation of natural gas. (Ord. 7672-NS § 1 (part), 2019)