The Trump administration on Monday sued the cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma, asking a decide to dam native legal guidelines that ban pure gasoline infrastructure in new buildings.
Within the grievance, the federal authorities says Morgan Hill adopted its ban in 2019 and Petaluma adopted with its personal in 2021, arguing each measures violate federal legislation.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Courtroom for the Northern District of California, asks the courtroom to declare the ordinances invalid and completely cease the cities from imposing them.
Federal attorneys say the native guidelines battle with the Power Coverage and Conservation Act, a federal legislation that units nationwide requirements for the way home equipment use power. By successfully prohibiting gas-powered stoves, furnaces, water heaters and different gear in new building, the federal government argues, the cities are regulating merchandise that Congress positioned below federal management.
The grievance factors to a 2024 ruling by the U.S. Courtroom of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in a case involving the town of Berkeley. In that call, the courtroom stated cities can not ban the set up of pure gasoline piping in new buildings as a result of such restrictions are overridden by federal legislation.
The federal government says Morgan Hill’s ordinance “features to ban all use of gasoline home equipment in new buildings” except a restricted exception applies. It makes an identical allegation about Petaluma’s ordinance, which applies to new buildings and main renovations, with some exceptions and an choice for a waiver in sure circumstances.
The submitting additionally notes that federal requirements already cowl many pure gas-fueled merchandise, together with water heaters, furnaces, garments dryers, stoves and pool heaters.
The grievance says neither metropolis has requested the U.S. Division of Power for permission to implement guidelines that may battle with federal requirements.
It additionally says different California cities have rolled again comparable legal guidelines for the reason that Ninth Circuit ruling.
Metropolis officers in Morgan Hill and Petaluma didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark Monday.
This story is growing. Verify again for updates.
