Thread by @leahstokes

Twitter is fun, BUT: have you ever attended a 5+ hour local City Council meeting???

Currently in the part of the meeting where councilmembers try to pawn off meeting obligations on one another...

Now we are being informed that there is a new invasive mosquito in our county which can be a vector for diseases like, Dengue, Yellow Fever and Zika.

To which I think: did you know that climate change is a key driver of this?
gavi.org/vaccineswork/c….

And now, for the main event: energy code amendments for new buildings!

Should Santa Barbara ban gas in new construction, as 40 other cities in California have already done?

YES!
independent.com/2020/12/31/its…

Some facts being dropped on the folks who fell for the propaganda messages from SoCalGas' front group.

The building sector is ready to be electrified, because 25% of US homes are ALREADY all electric.

And for those people who think we are going to use "renewable" gas...

There isn't enough. There will never be enough.

The Energy & Climate Manager is doing a FANTASTIC job of laying out the facts.

SoCalGas's front group is lying to the public.

Now one of our councilmembers asks some rather uninformed questions. He cannot seem to believe the numerous studies that show electricity is cheaper.

Yes, electricity is cheaper than fossil gas. Because new electric technology is much more efficient.
ethree.com/e3-quantifies-…

Ignorant councilmember...
- Overstates cost of induction. I just bought a new induction stove. It was $1300. Google it. MANY gas stoves are $1300.
- Claims you need new pans (NO SIR - many, many pans work)
- Then he says it's "not a benefit for me, it's for my children."

SoCalGas says we need gas infrastructure and there is "LOTS" of renewables gas. Spreading more misinformation with our money, which we pay to them because they are a monopoly company.

While mispronouncing "decarbonize" -- shockingly, he has no idea what that means.

Here's some actual facts.

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS IN THE WORLD MY FRIENDS AT SOCALGAS.

"There's lots of natural gas... uh... renewable." He almost forgot his own talking points.
earthjustice.org/features/repor…

Councilmember Sneddon takes the opportunity to ask a question to this SoCalGas lobbyist who claims he is not a "lobbyist": "Were you aware of these text messages that were being sent out to people with this misinformation?"
independent.com/2020/12/31/its…

Sending some love out to my local electric utility @SCE tonight, which showed up to speak up in favor of the gas ban for new buildings.

See: electric utilities CAN be a force for good! They have a lot to gain from electrification (if they can just figure that out...)

Now the Executive Director of the C4BES (SoCalGas astroturf group -- a gentleman I cannot assume lives in Santa Barbara) accuses the staff of spreading misinformation... Then goes on to spread more misinformation himself.

OKAY FRIENDS I AM UP NEXT! Right after a straight up climate denier...

And yes... I'm still listening. Honestly this is kind of fascinating!

Loving all the local residents who have electrified their homes sharing their positive experiences with the Council!

Looks like the misinformation texting campaign BACKFIRED on SoCalGas. The supporters are out in force!

An architect from my neighborhood chimes in: "after the last four years we have all had enough of alternative facts." Throwing some shade at the gas lobbyists no doubt still listening in. 🔥🔥🔥

Our very tired Mayor just tried to end the comments... Didn't work. I totally get it -- she is 8 hours in! But the reason why we are all up so late is because of the misinformation spread by the gas company.

Now we have an expert from @RockyMtnInst -- they are doing some of the best work, alongside @SierraClub, on building electrification!

Now a real piece of work comes on and calls me "Miss Stokes," goes after me and says "I'm not a scientist, that I'm a policymaker" (HA! Cannot get his facts straight.)

I imagine he is paid by the gas company to personally attack me.

For those wondering, here are the facts:
- It's Dr. Stokes
- I have a PhD from MIT
- I am a scientist

Some concluding thoughts. We talk a lot about cities leading the way on climate action, but I got to say they are pretty vulnerable to misinformation campaigns. And they don't have a lot of resources. This isn't really the optimal place to make climate policy.

Okay we are getting CLOSE to a motion...

Staff will return with an all-electric requirement via REACH code for new buildings, and a look at incentives for existing buildings, to work with workforce transition, with particularly attention to outreach and a full and robust conversation about exemptions.

AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY!

And that's a wrap, folks. Local climate action in ACTION!