Resolution 15607CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 15607
LIMITING NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a
report in 2018, finding that human activities are estimated to have caused approximately
1.0 °C of global warming above pre-industrial levels, with a likely range of 0.8°C to 1.2 °C;
and that global warming is likely to reach 1.5 °C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to
increase at the current rate; and that climate-related risks for natural and human systems
are higher for global warming of 1.5 °C than at present, but lower than at 2°C; and that
pathways to limiting global warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot would require
rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy, land, urban and infrastructure (including
transport and buildings), and industrial systems; and that these systems transitions are
unprecedented in terms of scale, but not necessarily in terms of speed, and imply deep
emissions reductions in all sectors, a wide portfolio of mitigation options and a significant
upscaling of investments in those options; and
WHEREAS, the federal government issued the Fourth National Climate
Assessment, finding that climate change creates new risks and exacerbates existing
vulnerabilities in communities across the United States, presenting growing challenges to
human health and safety, quality of life, and the rate of economic growth; and that without
substantial and sustained global mitigation and regional adaptation efforts, climate
change is expected to cause growing losses to American infrastructure and property and
impede the rate of economic growth over this century; and that communities,
governments, and businesses are working to reduce risks and costs associated with
climate change by taking action to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and
implement adaptation strategies; and that while mitigation and adaptation efforts have
expanded substantially in the last four years, they do not yet approach the scale
considered necessary to avoid substantial damages to the economy, environment, and
human health over the coming decades; and
WHEREAS, the State of California issued California's Fourth Climate Assessment,
finding that by 2100 average annual maximum daily temperature is projected to increase
by 5.6°F-8.8°F, with heat waves in cities causing 2-3 times more heat related deaths (by
2050), and hotter temperatures increasing electrical demand; water supply from
snowpack is projected to decline by two-thirds potentially causing water shortages up to
16% (by 2050); the average area burned by wildfires could increase by 77%; 31-67% of
Southern California beaches may completely erode and make hundreds of miles of
coastal highways susceptible to flooding; and
WHEREAS, in March 2019, the City Council declared a climate emergency and
joined a global effort to get to net zero emissions as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, in September 2019, the City Council adopted an updated and revised
Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) for the City of Alameda with the goal of
lowering citywide GHG emissions 50% below 2005 baseline by 2030 and achieving the
vision of net zero emissions as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, natural gas and the infrastructure needed to transport it to Alameda
homes and businesses is a leading source of GHG emissions in Alameda, responsible
for 25% of the GHGs released in the City. The only source sector with more local GHG
emissions is the transportation sector.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT:
1. Climate Change is a threat to Alameda. As a coastal city, Alameda is vulnerable to
sea level rise. Carbon dioxide and methane gas released into the atmosphere causes
increases in worldwide average temperature, the melting of glaciers, and the thermal
expansion of ocean water, which all contribute to rising sea levels.
2. Natural Gas Infrastructure contributes to Climate Change. Scientific evidence
has established that natural gas infrastructure and combustion contributes significant
GHG emissions to global warming and climate change. Burning natural gas generates
carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Significant additional carbon emissions are caused
by methane gas leaks in the natural gas infrastructure. Methane (CH4) is leaked into
the atmosphere from leaks in the natural gas infrastructure. According to the U.S
Environmental Protection Agency, "[p]ound for pound, the comparative impact of CH4
[methane] is more than 25 times greater than CO2 [carbon dioxide] over a 100-year
period." During the first 20 years after it is release, methane has a global warming
potential 84 times that of carbon dioxide. The Environmental Defense Fund estimates
that "[a]bout 25% of the manmade global warming we're experiencing is caused by
methane emissions." (Sources: "Overview of Greenhouse Gases,"
httos://www.erla.00vighclemissions!overview-areenhouse-gases#methane and
"Methane: The other important greenhouse gas," Environmental Defense Fund,
https:/iwww.edf.orcyclimateimethane-other-importani-qreenhouse-gas).
3. Natural Gas Infrastructure contributes to the loss of homes and property in the
event of a natural disaster. Fires resulting from natural gas infrastructure resulted in
significant loss of homes and property after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 and
the Northridge earthquake in 1994. A 2017 report by the U.S. Geological Survey
evaluating a 7.0 quake on the Hayward fault line with the epicenter in Oakland
predicted that the resulting fires would result in a loss of "residential and commercial
building floor area equivalent to more than 52,000 single family homes and cause
property (building and content) losses approaching $30 billion," The report identified
ruptured gas lines as a key fire risk factor. (Source: "The HayWired earthquake
scenario—Engineering implications," U.S. Geological Survey, April 18, 2018,
httr.s://pubs.eruscis.aov/publication'sir20175013v2 ).
4. Climate Change is an emergency in Alameda. Rapid, far-reaching and
unprecedented changes in all aspects of society are required to limit global warming
and the resulting environmental threat posed by climate change, including the prompt
phasing out of natural gas as a fuel for heating and cooling infrastructure in new
buildings. Use of electric heating and cooling infrastructure in new buildings will result
in a reduction of CO2 emissions and thus decrease GHG emissions in Alameda.
5. Public health safety and welfare. Minimizing the expansion of the natural gas
infrastructure and use of natural gas in Alameda will benefit the public health, safety
and welfare; and
Existing natural gas jobs and services. The transition to non-fossil fuel power
does not eliminate the need to maintain the safety of the existing natural gas
infrastructure. It is essential to retain the existing highly trained and skilled utility
workforce to maintain the safety of existing natural gas infrastructure and minimize
future methane gas leaks, and ensure the safety of existing users, including lower-
income families that may not be able to afford the cost to go all electric. Over 10,000
fully trained gas workers operate and maintain California's gas infrastructure today.
Contraction of the natural gas infrastructure will take years and must occur in a
manner that is safe, economical and minimizes worker displacement through a variety
of programs that provide transfer opportunities from gas utility jobs to clean energy
utility jobs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is the intent of the City Council of Alameda to
minimize, and where possible eliminate, natural gas infrastructure associated with newly
constructed residential projects on City-owned land; ; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council shall ensure that all future leases,
sales and purchase agreements, development agreements, and disposition and
development agreements for City-owned land shall limit natural gas infrastructure in
newly constructed residential buildings; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that for the purposes of this resolution, "Natural Gas"
shall have the same meaning as "Fuel Gas" as defined in California Plumbing Code and
Mechanical Code. "Natural Gas Infrastructure" shall be defined as fuel gas piping, other
than service pipe, in or in connection with a building, structure or within the property lines
of premises, extending from the point of delivery at the gas meter as specified in the
California Mechanical Code and Plumbing Code. "Newly Constructed Building" shall be
defined as a building that has never before been used or occupied for any purpose. "City
owned land" shall mean any land that it owned by the City and offered for lease or
purchase.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and
regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in regular meeting
assembled on the 5th day of November 2019, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Daysog, Knox White, Oddie, Vella and Mayor
Ezzy Ash craft — 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official
seal of said City this 6th day of November 2019.
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Yibin Shen,CityAtt�rney
City of Alarneda