Let’s stop pretending ‘natural’ gas is in any way good for the environment
Nov 7, 2024 – David Miller – C40 Cities
… The fossil-fuel industry – and many Canadian politicians, particularly, but not exclusively, those from Conservative parties – pretend that natural gas is somehow good for the environment as it displaces dirtier coal. Such natural-gas boosters are pushing for this country to export more. But natural gas is not a transition fuel to clean energy in any way whatsoever, and we need to avoid its use everywhere possible if we are going to avoid irreversible climate breakdown, with its huge consequences – environmentally, socially and economically. In fact, from a climate-change perspective, “natural” gas is nearly as dirty as coal, and LNG is even worse. –More
Vancouver Votes to Reinstate Gas Ban for New Developments
December 2, 2024 – Tova Gaster with files from The Energy Mix staff
…“This decision is about so much more than protecting the health of Vancouverites; it is about respecting the significant body of science, health, and sustainability studies demonstrating that continuing to tie in new buildings to gas is a dangerous path,” Dr. Melissa Lem.
Montreal to ban use of natural gas in most new buildings
Oct 25, 2023 – CBC News
Montreal is preparing to ban gas connections in smaller new buildings as of next year, with some exceptions, as a way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and move the city closer to its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
The new regulation was adopted by the city’s executive committee Wednesday morning.
The ban means gas-powered heating systems for buildings, hot water and items like stoves, barbecues, pools and spas will not be an option for new buildings up to three storeys and 600 square metres in area as of Oct. 1, 2024.
Councillors in Canada’s coldest city are split on whether to phase out fossil fuels to heat buildings
Nov 25, 2024 – Julia-Simone Rutgers – the Narwhal
A proposal that would have moved Winnipeg closer to phasing out the use of natural gas — a fossil fuel that accounts for 40 per cent of the city’s emissions — in new and existing buildings has stalled.
The waste, water and environment committee considered a motion last week that would have directed the public service to investigate the “tools and mechanisms” to move away from natural gas heating in all existing and new residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
… Vancouver became the first Canadian city to implement natural gas restrictions in 2020, introducing a bylaw that would have required space and water heating in new low-rise buildings to be zero-emission by 2025. Victoria introduced a similar gas heating ban to its building codes in 2022.
Montreal’s ban on natural gas heat in new low-rise buildings came into effect this October and will extend to all new buildings by 2025. Nanaimo, B.C., placed restrictions on gas as a primary heat source for new homes this summer while Prévost, Que. — population 12,000 — approved a gas ban in new and existing buildings last fall.
Several U.S. states, including New York, Maryland and Washington, have also proposed some form of restriction on natural gas use in buildings, as have more than 100 American cities.