Editor,
I’ve been following reports of cities banning natural gas in new residential construction and retrofitting those already using electric appliances. Given how unreliable electric companies have become, this seems like a perfect scenario for creating unintended consequences. Gas stoves can be used during power outages by lighting them with a match or lighter. With all-electric kitchens, cooking would be impossible during an electrical power outage.
That may be no big deal for short outages, but frequently loss of electrical power extends into hours, days and weeks.
Power outages have reached an all-time high. If we really want to move away from gas, it seems obvious we must first address the unreliability of electrical appliances.
Bob Stine
San Mateo
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(3) comments
Bob - you forget to mention that on a percentage basis, most natural gas in our homes is used for heating. Cooking is a minor part. Electric heating is very expensive and as you mentioned not quite as reliable. The conversion cost is astronomical as well. Oh well, the AOC gang is fooling most of our leaders, most recently the HMB contingency, constructing predictable consequences.
Well written, Mr. Stine. Woe to those folks who are all electric. I guess they can go outside and fire up the BBQ pit, or use that oft-ignored fireplace to spew more greenhouse gases than was saved by converting to electric. Maybe dads can take this opportunity to show the little ones how to start a fire without a match. Speaking of outages, let’s not forget that just yesterday, PG&E shut off power to various sectors of the state. Hopefully soon, they’ll turn on the power so hungry and frozen souls can enjoy a hot meal and defrost.
You letter couldn’t be more timely as 44,000 California are having their electricity cut off today. If they had natural gas generators they’d have electricity. But even without electricity natural gas would let them heat their home, cook dinner and have a hot shower. Families with young children will suffer the most. If virtue signalers want to self flagellate themselves it’s their choice but don’t force it on the rest of us.
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