Gas sector keeps watch as municipal gas ban battles play out in 2020

摘要

The year 2020 could reveal whether a smattering of municipal bans on new natural gas hookups for buildings becomes a more widespread movement tied to de-carbonization efforts around the country. Partly at stake for the natural gas sector is maintaining its share in the residential-commercial market. The res-comm sector makes up about 26% of US gas demand, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics. While individual gas bans risk a small slice of overall gas demand, they are part of a larger movement that contends gas must be phased out of the fuel mix if global temperature increases are to remain within a range compatible with a stable climate. “Every one of these [bans] that does this sends a message that natural gas is inconsistent with meeting climate goals and that it’s an acceptable demonizing of gas,” said one gas industry official who asked to speak on background. “We’re not going to worry about 100 Mcf, but you can’t accept that premise.” The pioneering action by Berkeley, California, in July to ban gas piping in new buildings spawned dozens of related attempts in other municipalities in California, as well as one in Seattle and several in Boston-area towns.