Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has revived a legislative push to restrict natural gas consumption in new construction throughout the Emerald City.
Durkan on Jan. 13 sent legislation to the City Council that would largely prohibit fossil fuel combustion for space and water heating in new commercial buildings and large residences. Durkan's bill would require those building types to use alternatives like electric heat pumps starting in 2022.
The mayor said electrifying buildings is an important step in curbing climate pollution. Seattle's latest greenhouse gas emissions inventory showed emissions from the waste, transportation and building sectors increased 1.1%, underpinned by an 8.3% increase from buildings between 2016 and 2018, according to Durkan's office.
"It is up to Seattle and other cities to make the bold changes necessary to lower our greenhouse gas emissions," Durkan said in a Jan. 13 press release. "Business as usual will not get us to a future where all Seattle residents, especially our Black, Indigenous and people of color neighbors who are unfairly burdened by environmental inequities, enjoy a healthy and prosperous future."
In response, Puget Sound Energy Inc. — which distributes gas to roughly 150,000 customers in Seattle and 900,000 ratepayers statewide — said that maintaining the integrity of the distribution system and supporting utility workers must be a priority. Natural gas currently provides about two-thirds of Seattle's energy use on peak demand days, according to Puget Sound Energy External Communications Supervisor Janet Kim.
"As an energy delivery company, [Puget Sound Energy] is fuel-neutral," Kim said in an email. "We are a staunch proponent of current alternatives, such as [renewable natural gas], as well as future fuel sources like hydrogen. We believe this will play a vital role in ensuring our customers continue to enjoy safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy for years to come."
If passed, Durkan's legislation would make Seattle one of the largest U.S. cities to adopt a building gas ban, following two previous efforts. Former City Councilmember Mike O'Brien attempted in late 2019 to pass an ordinance modeled after a pioneering prohibition in Berkeley, Calif., but ran into opposition. After O'Brien left public office, Councilmember Kshama Sawant took up the issue, but the city's response to COVID-19 and racial justice protests sidelined the effort throughout 2020.
The latest effort comes one week after Washington lawmakers revealed legislation that proposes a roadmap for winding down gas utility service and prohibiting fossil fuel use in new buildings statewide. That bill would also authorize local governments to exceed state residential building codes.
Durkan's legislation proposes an amendment to the city's 2018 energy code update, which is set to go into effect in either March or July. The code covers construction and substantial alterations of commercial buildings and multifamily residences with four or more floors.
The amendment would prohibit all natural gas and most electric resistance space heating systems, as well as gas water heating in multifamily buildings and hotels. It would require improvements to building exteriors to improve energy efficiency a key factor in electric heat pump performance. The measure would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
Like many gas bans, the proposed code amendment does not prohibit gas use for cooking, which accounts for a small portion of household gas consumption. It does, however, require developers to provide wiring for future conversion to electric appliances. The measure also includes several other exemptions, including for backup generators and small and decorative gas appliances. Building with spaces that require fossil fuel or electric resistance heating for research, health care or manufacturing would be able to apply for an exemption.
The city expects its building emissions to be at least 12% higher by 2050 if it does not take action, according to Durkan's office. Seattle received support in developing its energy code through its participation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge.