The city of Berkeley, Calif., has agreed to repeal a landmark climate rule that would have banned natural gas hookups in new homes, throwing into question the fate of dozens of similar restrictions on gas in cities across the country.
The city settled the lawsuit last week by agreeing to immediately halt enforcement of the rule and eventually repeal it altogether.
“To comply with the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, we have ceased enforcement of the gas ban,” Farimah Brown, the city attorney for Berkeley, said in an email.
However, she added, “Berkeley will continue to be a leader on climate action.”The decision could have widespread ripple effects.
Many of those efforts are facing fierce resistance and legal challenges from the gas industry, restaurants and homebuilders.
Persons:
” Farimah Brown, “
Organizations:
California Restaurant Association, United States, Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Berkeley, New
Locations:
Berkeley, Calif, “ Berkeley, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle