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.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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