Berkeley, California, has agreed to repeal its pioneering ban on natural gas hookups in new homes, a move that casts doubt on similar bans across the country.
Brad Plumer reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Berkeley’s decision came after a legal challenge by the California Restaurant Association and a ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- The repeal raises questions about the future of over 140 similar ordinances nationwide, aimed at combating climate change.
- Other cities may still pursue climate goals through building efficiency standards and alternative strategies to natural gas.
Key quote:
“To comply with the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, we have ceased enforcement of the gas ban. Berkeley will continue to be a leader on climate action.”
— Farimah Brown, city attorney for Berkeley
Why this matters:
Despite this setback, options remain for local governments to encourage building electrification through building codes, air emissions standards, and regulation of natural gas distribution, provided these measures align with EPCA stipulations and other federal laws.
In 2021, EHN’s Kristina Marusic presented evidence that natural gas production can be linked to lower birth weights in a national study.
(WO) – Independent engineering consultancy Longitude Engineering has been awarded a contract to provide detailed design & engineering services for the subsea development of Phase-X at Egypt’s West Delta Deep Marine concession, part of the Burullus natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea.
The West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) concession is located approximately 90 km offshore Egypt, on the north-western part of the Nile Delta. Significant gas volumes have been discovered in numerous fields and reservoirs. These reservoirs have been progressively developed to maintain current and future natural gas supplies to the Egyptian domestic market and the Egyptian Liquefied Natural Gas (ELNG) plant.
Burullus Gas Company is continuing the expansion of the WDDM facilities through the current phase of the development known as WDDM Phase-X. Phase-X includes three subsea wells being brought online to supplement the existing 70 wells currently in production, at water depth ranging from 450 m to 660 m.
Longitude’s design and engineering services will cover various phases of the project starting with the vessel assurance for cable laying operations, the detailed design of cable routing & crossing, jumpers design and the development of the project’s related safety studies to support the cable and jumper installation. Longitude will also provide the verification and development of fabrication and assurance drawings and reports in connection with mud mats and a new jumper design.
Longitude will deliver the services as subcontractor to the awarded EPIC contractor and vessel owner Petroleum Marine Services (PMS).
Longitude is part of ABL Group ASA – the Oslo-listed global consultancy group. It specializes in engineering, design and analysis consultancy services including concept selections, Pre-FEED and FEED services, marine operations engineering, design and analysis, and vessel design for renewables, advanced engineering, maritime, oil & gas and infrastructure markets.
ABL Group has been established in the Egyptian market since 2018 via its energy and marine consultancy ABL.
Longitude will be exhibiting at the upcoming EGYPS conference together with ABL, at stand 2F49.