Democrat-led cities move to ban gas stoves

Leaders in Democratic cities across the country are moving forward with plans to ban natural gas stoves, even as Biden said that he would hit the breaks on a federal ban.

Cities that have already put in place some kind of restriction on gas stoves, ovens or furnaces, include New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, collectively affecting more than 10 million Americans, Fox News reports.



"New York City is proof that it’s possible to end the era of fossil fuels, invest in a sustainable future, protect public health and create good-paying jobs in the process. If the largest city in America can take this critical step to ban gas use, any city can do the same," then-mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio said in December 2021 as he signed a law mandating that newly constructed buildings in the city ban gas stoves.

De Blasio's law made New York City the largest city, as well as the first large cold-weather city, to make the move away from gas stoves.

Months earlier, in June 2021, Seattle city council unanimously approved a ban on gas stoves in newly constructed buildings.

"We are facing a climate disaster. It is up to Seattle and other cities to make the bold changes necessary to lower our greenhouse gas emissions," then-mayor of Seattle Jenny Durkan said. "Electrifying our buildings is an important step in the many actions needed to curb climate pollution."

Los Angeles recently became the largest city in California to enact a gas stove ban in new construction, which was signed into law on Mayor Eric Garcetti's final day in office last month.

"Today, we write a new chapter in building a more sustainable, equitable and just future for all Angelenos," Garcetti said in a statement. "We are putting communities first and walking lighter on this land."

The Biden administration had to backpedal last week after a member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission told Bloomberg that "any option is on the table," before suggesting that a federal ban on the "hidden hazard" that is gas stoves was incoming.

A study published in December claimed that 12 percent of childhood asthma cases could be attributed to gas stoves. However, critics have pointed out that some of the funding for the study came from a non-profit research firm that aggressively advocates for green policies.

It has also been pointed out that a gas stove ban would result in considerably higher energy bills for consumers.

"Any efforts to ban highly efficient natural gas stoves should raise alarm bells for the 187 million Americans who depend on this essential fuel every day," the American Gas Association said in a statement on January 10. "Natural gas utilities have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 69% since 1990 and help homeowners reduce their carbon emissions 1.2% every year."

"The use of natural gas has reduced power sector emissions to 40-year lows and, as an essential backup fuel, has enabled the growth of renewables," the statement added.
 

In a statement, US Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric said, "Over the past several days, there has been a lot of attention paid to gas stove emissions and to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Research indicates that emissions from gas stoves can be hazardous, and the CPSC is looking for ways to reduce related indoor air quality hazards."

"But to be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so."