Three years after Eugene City Council pulled its proposed partial natural gas ban, the city has not released a clear plan for home electrification. The 2023 ordinance would have required electric hookups in new low-rise residential buildings but was withdrawn after a federal court struck down a similar ban in California. Since then, Bend and Ashland have passed climate impact fees on new gas appliances, but Eugene has not followed suit. City staff have not been asked to work on electrification since the ordinance was rescinded, and a councilor said the conversation is unlikely to resume soon. Advocates like the Sierra Club say Eugene is not on track to meet its climate goals. However, the city is moving forward with a home energy score ordinance that would require sellers to disclose efficiency ratings. A proposed Clean Energy Fund could also generate revenue for decarbonization projects if it makes the ballot. The article highlights the legal and political challenges cities face when trying to reduce natural gas use, and the alternative approaches being tested in Oregon.
