If we had a zero or even a low carbon grid now I could understand banning natural gas. But, why ban a net contributor to carbon reduction today just because it will eventually perhaps reduce carbon in the future.
You all are aware that several municipalities have banned natural gas in new construction. Yet, the idea that the local electric grids are lower carbon emitting is a distant hope … very distant.
Here are some statistics that should wake them up:
“The latest outlook from the Energy and Information Administration (EIA) predicts that the share of renewable energy technologies in the electricity generation mix will more than double by 2050. In 2020, renewable energy accounted for 18% of overall electricity generation capacity, meaning it will amount to roughly 36% of the mix by 2050. That figure might have been a cause for celebration were it not for the fact that the same agency estimated a 38% share for renewable energy by 2050 last year.”
This means that over 60% of the electricity in the year 2050 will be produced with a carbon footprint that is similar to today …
That is 30 years into the future. Look back 30 years and see what was predicted for today back then. One can rightly wonder whether this forecast is even potentially correct.
Why not then wait until we can see a bit more clearly before we bash natural gas today, especially for water heating?
Unless of course all of this is simply for optics … especially given most of those proposing these rules will not be in office when this time comes.
Bravo!