Gas ban

The BAAD board voted in 2023 to pass a gas appliance ban starting for gas water heaters in January 2027 and gas furnaces in 2029. They did not inform the public in 2023. There are 24 appointed BAAD board members for nine Bay Area counties. On May 6, there was a public hearing in San Francisco . On May 13, they narrowly voted 10-8 in favor of a gas ban. The ban is aimed at reducing the 5% of nitrogen oxide emissions linked to home appliances. Most of the emissions — 95% — come from heavy industry, wildfires, transportation and agriculture, according to CARB. The South Coast board rejected this gas ban as it is too costly.

Three people sit on the San Mateo County BAAD board. San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller (SMC_SupMueller@smcgov.org) voted no. Noelia Corzo, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors (ncorzo@smcgov.org) voted yes to gas ban. San Bruno Mayor Rico Medina (RMedina@sanbruno.ca.gov) did not vote. I thanked Ray Mueller for voting no.

Why can 10 people mandate all nine Bay Area counties to comply with these new costly regulations? This BAAD board or government agency has overreached in my opinion. It should be voluntary and not a mandate. I feel seniors should be exempt. It is very expensive to upgrade electrical panels and replace gas appliances with electric. I read there is a choice for District 2 (Foster City, Belmont, San Mateo). Mr. Taso Zografos entered the race as a certified write-in candidate, and running against Noelia Corzo, who voted to mandate a gas ban and make it even more costly to live in the Bay Area (writeintaso.com).

Valerie Keech

San Bruno