Title
Adoption of Resolution Containing Findings of Local Climatic, Geological and Topographical Conditions as Required to Adopt Alameda Local Amendments to the 2019 California Energy Code and Rescinding Resolution 15607 Limiting Natural Gas Infrastructure for New Residential Construction on City Owned Property; and
Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Amending Article I (Uniform Codes Relating to Building, Housing and Technical Codes) of Chapter XIII (Building and Housing) to Adopt Local Amendments to the 2019 California Energy Code to Require Newly Constructed Buildings to be All-Electric. (City Manager/Planning, Building and Transportation)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In September 2019, the City Council adopted the City of Alameda's (City) Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP), which included policies directing staff to prepare ordinances requiring all new residential construction to be 100% electric-powered with no gas hookups.
In October 2019, the City Council took a first and significant step in this direction by adopting a resolution limiting natural gas infrastructure for new residential construction on City-owned property (Resolution 15607). This proposed amendment to the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) currently before the City Council is a targeted "Reach Code," i.e., a local building energy code amendment that "reaches" beyond the state minimum requirements for energy use in building design and construction. It would extend the all-electric requirement adopted for residential construction on city-owned property to new construction throughout Alameda, including nonresidential development, thereby fulfilling a key policy recommendation included in the CARP.
Specifically, staff is recommending the City Council to adopt the all-electric reach code to require all new construction citywide to be all-electric-i.e., no natural gas or propane infrastructure installed and ele...
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