A picturesque corner of America’s Pacific Northwest is planning to become the first city to ban residential heating by natural gas.
The city of Bellingham in Washington, squeezed between the ocean and the Cascade mountains, is debating whether to pass the law to make all homeowners and developers convert properties to electric heat-pump technology or other green alternative by 2035, or possibly 2040.
Bellingham has already eliminated more than two-thirds of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions since 2000 with measure than include switching to low-powered LEDs for street lamps and providing bicycles for city employees.
The energy industry has spent more than $1m campaigning against the plans, which will be voted on in the next few weeks.
Last year Berkeley in California became the first city to outlaw natural gas in new low-rise residential buildings, a move which has now been followed by dozens of other cities.
