Sunshine and clouds mixed. High around 70F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening then becoming windy with rain developing after midnight. Low 59F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Belmont has approved stricter building codes requiring new construction to have more electric infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The new codes require new multifamily and commercial buildings to be all-electric with limited exceptions. New single-family dwellings must also be all-electric, with substantial remodels of more than 50% of the foundation also triggering the requirement. Any exempted appliances would require electrical prewiring to accommodate a future electric appliance. Exceptions are available for nonresidential buildings with kitchens in a public area, labs and hotels with more than 80 guest rooms.
The ordinance will also require a higher percentage of electric vehicle infrastructure and charging stations in business areas, multifamily residential areas and single-family housing to meet future demand. Electric vehicle infrastructure exceptions are available for accessory dwelling units and buildings with entitlement permits. The council passed the codes at its June 14 meeting, and they go into effect Jan. 1.
Reach codes are additional local enhancements to state codes that address the use of natural gas, building electrification and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Belmont updated its reach codes to meet its 2035 greenhouse gas reduction targets in its Climate Action Plan and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. While the state passed its own codes earlier this year, cities can approve stricter reach codes above state minimum requirements, which Belmont has done. The city has said the changes would result in health, environmental and long-term economic benefits. Peninsula Clean Energy developed the initial reach code model and helped Belmont understand cost study results. Peninsula Clean Energy is a joint powers authority serving San Mateo County, providing cities an option for cleaner energy and lower rates.
While the council majority voted for the stricter codes, not all were in favor. Community concerns have been raised about electricity grid costs and reliability, the effectiveness of heat pump water heaters and overall cost increases. The city noted in its staff report that while grid upgrades can cost money, customers gain savings through all-electric construction. Issues with central heat pump water heaters would be improved with more contractor training and additional funding.
Recommended for you
Vice Mayor Tom McCune voted against the ordinance, saying it went a little too far at too fast a pace for his liking. While there were other versions of the law he could vote for, he did not support the current option. McCune stressed he was not voting against the principle of environmentalism or energy conservation, but he was worried the reach codes would require residents to be early adopters of technology that is not widespread, like heat pump water heaters, that could run into challenges in practice. He supported aspects like electric induction cooking and electric vehicle charging.
“There are a bunch of good things here, but this goes a little bit over the line when it requires people to be early adopters,” McCune said.
The city passed the first reading of the ordinance at its April 26 meeting following several discussions in late 2021 and early 2022. The council passed the second reading 4-1 at its June 14 meeting, with McCune voting against it.
Instead of virtue signaling, perhaps the good folks in Belmont pushing for all-electric can tell us where all this magic electricity will come from. Perhaps the good folks in Belmont can tell us how much this all-electric push will add to home prices. On the potential bright side, maybe this is a godsend for Germany, who can buy our share of natural gas. Maybe this will prevent Germany, and soon other European countries, from firing up their coal plants for electricity.
Thank you Mr. McClune for your dissenting vote. The council needs to be aware of the unforeseen ramifications of its decision. Of course, the lobbying by the PCE and Mr. Stone's affiliation with the PCE pushed the measure regardless of cost and inconvenience. Nothing new under the sun, as my Dad used to say. And who is worried about our children not being able to purchase or even maintain a home on the Peninsula? This is what a forked-tongue, woke leadership will do to you.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(2) comments
Instead of virtue signaling, perhaps the good folks in Belmont pushing for all-electric can tell us where all this magic electricity will come from. Perhaps the good folks in Belmont can tell us how much this all-electric push will add to home prices. On the potential bright side, maybe this is a godsend for Germany, who can buy our share of natural gas. Maybe this will prevent Germany, and soon other European countries, from firing up their coal plants for electricity.
Thank you Mr. McClune for your dissenting vote. The council needs to be aware of the unforeseen ramifications of its decision. Of course, the lobbying by the PCE and Mr. Stone's affiliation with the PCE pushed the measure regardless of cost and inconvenience. Nothing new under the sun, as my Dad used to say. And who is worried about our children not being able to purchase or even maintain a home on the Peninsula? This is what a forked-tongue, woke leadership will do to you.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.