"In the complaint filed in US district court in the northern district of California, justice department attorneys alleged that ordinances passed by the San Francisco-area cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma since 2019 violated a 1975 law that prevents states and cities from regulating the energy use of products subject to federal standards. The natural gas bans not only impose crushing costs on California residents but are also unlawful, the complaint said."
"The Trump administration sued two California cities on Monday, seeking to block local laws that restrict natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new construction. The lawsuit is the administration's latest attack on energy policies that seek to rein in the use of fossil fuels to combat climate change. California, a Democratic stronghold, has among the most aggressive climate change policies in the world. Republicans, including Donald Trump, for years have attacked local Democratic efforts to limit gas-powered appliances."
"Since 2019, dozens of US municipalities have enacted ordinances that restrict natural gas hookups. A federal appeals court in 2023 ruled that the city of Berkeley could not enforce its 2019 natural gas ban. The city manager of Petaluma, Peggy Flynn, said in an email that the city had no immediate comment. Morgan Hill officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. California governor Gavin Newsom and state attorney general Rob Bonta have yet to comment on the lawsuit."
Federal attorneys sued Morgan Hill and Petaluma seeking to enjoin local ordinances that restrict natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new construction. The complaint alleges the ordinances violate a 1975 federal law barring states and cities from regulating the energy use of products subject to federal standards and states the bans impose crushing costs on California residents. Since 2019, dozens of U.S. municipalities have adopted natural gas restrictions, and a 2023 federal appeals court ruled Berkeley could not enforce its 2019 ban. Petaluma offered no immediate comment; Morgan Hill officials did not respond. The lawsuit follows other legal fights between California localities and the federal government.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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