natural gas

The Bend City Council is going to get recommendations on electrification policy at its meeting next week. It’s kind of a big deal.

The city’s environment committee advises taking some serious steps:

1. Limit gas piping in the right of way for new construction.
2. Work toward standards for nitrogen oxide, NOx, for new appliances.
3. Establish a new construction pollution fee/building permit fee for buildings that connect to natural gas and install natural gas appliances. It would be set at a level to take into account the expected gas use and “social cost of carbon.” The money raised would go toward a pool to be used to help low-to-moderate income people retrofit their homes with cleaner energy.

And there’s more.

Yes, we have written about this repeatedly. We want to make sure Bend residents know these changes may be coming. Tell your councilors what you think. They can be emailed at council@bendoregon.gov.