WSJ discusses natural gas bans

woobagooba

Massachusetts is at the center of a battle over phasing out gas for cooking and heating

https://www.wsj.com/articles/towns-trying-to-ban-natural-gas-face-resistance-in-their-push-for-all-electric-homes-11627723801?st=ibfdtjeaqp2y3m6&reflink=article_email_share

ratio

Follow the money…

HomerJSmith

It seem the direction things are moving. You have to be wary of these New England Yankees. I assure you, Yankee isn't a flattering term.

I always envisioned a fusion or thorium reactor the size of an old cast iron Burnham boiler producing all the electrical and heating needs for every building. It would eliminate all the unsightly infrastructure of wires and piping. Every building would be its own source of energy.

Progressives always think that all they have to do is come up with an edict and the natural world will bow the their demands. Ever hear of "demanding the tides to recede."

There was never an edict phasing out Horses for motorized transportation. If a better mouse trap is made, the economies of a better mouse trap will make the old mouse trap obsolete. You don't need an edict. How many cathode ray tube TVs can you buy today?

The edicts of central planners has always lead to mis-allowcations of resources and an inability to correctly predict the future. Those are widely accepted facts. But, that doesn't keep Progessives from trying to tell you how to live.

Jamie Hall

Just don't say I didn't warn you...

As the article hints, for new construction? Maybe, maybe not, at least along the cost. For new construction inland... better be read to hear from some very unhappy customers. For renovation or retrofit? Not a hope. The 95% of the population (figure pulled out of my hat, but can't be far off) is, to use the vernacular, screwed, particularly those ho bought or switched to natural gas.

But hey ,our ancestors heated OK with wood fireplaces and stoves... good luck with that in the city or suburbs.

dopey27177

It seems to me that these progressives forget that it takes some form of energy (gas, oil or nuclear energy) to produce electricity. The electricity used for cooking is not as efficient as a gas cooking stove, I know this because I have been cooking on an electric range for twenty years.

As to heating a home and making domestic hot water the recovery rates are are far below the gas and oil fired units.

I moved to Florida 20 years ago and live in the same size house as lived in, in New York City I had central air, had gas heat, gas fired clothes dryer and 4 A/C window units totaling 4 Tons, my electric service was 100 AMPS, Living in Florida with an all electric house I have a 200 AMP service.

I use nearly 1 1/2 times the Kilo watt hours of electric that I used in New York.

These progressives need to look at increasing the size of their power plants and the cost of rewiring the transmission lines that bring the electricity to the buildings and of course the cost off rewiring the buildings that that the gas and oil will be removed from.

Even if the building owners produce their own electric they will energy to produce the electric they will need.

Jake

jumper

Who decides? Not people who can explain what VAR is.
I bet most members of PUC s and FERC could not learn to save their lives.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Doesn't surprise me a bit. I live in western MA. The part of the state that doesn't exist as far as Boston is concerned so I am somewhat removed from this. But I have been hearing some chatter the last 2 years or so.

These people don't have a clue. Not to mention the electric grid can't support what they have anymore than the gas distribution can.

At the last gas code update class I went to 2 months ago they said for the first time ever the people running the gas and plumbing boards in Boston are not licensed plumbers/gasfitters. This is the trend.

Gov Baker wan't to simplify and get rid of some of the state boards

HomerJSmith

I want to simplify and get rid of some of the state governors.

retiredguy

@ HomerJSmith; I read in a "popular mechanics" or "mechanics illustrated" magazine when I was very young, (shows how old I am), that by the time I was 50 yrs. old every house in the USA would have a small nuke plant in the basement just as you envisioned. I am still waiting and I am way past 50

BigRob

They're all lawyers and poly-sci people in SF.. and arguably crazy.

ChrisJ

The last line in the article, and his argument for why he wanted natural gas.

“I’m one of those people who likes the warmer feel of the heat,” he said."


Sigh...

ethicalpaul

What was the "better mousetrap" that replaced lead paint or asbestos without government mandates, asks this progressive.

ChrisJ

Jamie Hall said:

Just don't say I didn't warn you...

But hey ,our ancestors heated OK with wood fireplaces and stoves... good luck with that in the city or suburbs.

Well,
London did it for a very long time. Yes, it created the London fog, but the point was it was done in cities and suburbs.

retiredguy said:

@ HomerJSmith; I read in a "popular mechanics" or "mechanics illustrated" magazine when I was very young, (shows how old I am), that by the time I was 50 yrs. old every house in the USA would have a small nuke plant in the basement just as you envisioned. I am still waiting and I am way past 50

I've seen how most maintain their simple heating systems, water heaters, condensers etc.
I have no interest in anyone near me being responsible for maintaining and operating their own fission reactor. Basically "Get's ignored until there's a melt down".

ChrisJ

ethicalpaul said:

What was the "better mousetrap" that replaced lead paint or asbestos without government mandates, asks this progressive.

Well,
With asbestos I think lawsuits are what did it. I'm not aware of the government intervening with asbestos but I could be very wrong.