A court declined to revisit its decision to invalidate a city ban on natural gas hookups.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to reconsider its reversal of a Berkeley, California ban on natural gas hookups in new buildings, marking a defeat for a movement aimed at eliminating fossil fuel-burning appliances. Ysabelle Kempe explains in Smart Cities Dive, noting that similar lawsuits have led to reversals in other states.
In April, a court panel agreed with a coalition of California restaurant owners that the ban ‘overstepped’ the federal Energy and Policy Conservation Act. “The decision led other jurisdictions in the region to reconsider their own building electrification rules to avoid legal threats, with Eugene, Oregon, reversing its gas ban altogether and Washington state changing recently adopted building codes that would have mandated electric heat pumps in new buildings.”
Natural gas has been shown to significantly degrade indoor air quality. Berkeley officials have not commented on whether they plan to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, the next legal recourse.
FULL STORY: Federal court won’t reconsider decision to overturn Berkeley, California, natural gas ban

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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