Starting January 1, all new buildings in the county must be electric-powered, while multifamily apartment buildings will be required to provide electric car chargers.
California’s Marin County will require all new buildings to be powered by electricity starting January 1. According to an article by Jack Rogers in Globe St., “The county’s board of supervisors voted unanimously to enact the requirement, designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of natural gas, the Mercury News reported.”
The ordinance also addresses electric car charging infrastructure in multifamily buildings—“The county is requiring that 15% of new multifamily units with parking spaces have level 2 charging stations, which exceeds the state requirement, which is limited to 5%”—and enacts stricter efficiency standards for building additions and remodels.
“The tougher rules for renovations apply to single-family homes of more than 750 SF,” Rogers notes. “Owners will be required to implement additional energy efficiency and electrifications, including several options, but the county has opted not to required [sic] all-electric renovations at this time.”
In 2019, nearby Berkeley banned natural gas lines in new buildings, citing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate and public health.
FULL STORY: Marin County Requires New Buildings to Be Electric
Louisiana Planning Massive ‘Mystery’ Data Center
The center would be powered by a new, 1,500-megawatt natural gas plant, which critics say will drive up emissions and contribute negatively to the region’s air quality.
California Cities Suspend Natural Gas Bans Following Court Ruling
A Ninth Circuit court ruling forced Berkeley to reverse its ban on natural gas in new buildings, prompting other cities to suspend their own efforts to promote all-electric buildings.
Berkeley Natural Gas Ban Remains Reversed
A court declined to revisit its decision to invalidate a city ban on natural gas hookups.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.
Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.
Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service