Chicago's landscape is set for a seismic shift in how new buildings harness the energy, with Mayor Brandon Johnson and a faction of City Council members backing an ordinance to cut the cord on natural gas. Should the "Clean and Affordable Building's Ordinance" sail through the legislative process, the Windy City's new constructions will have to toe the line with electric-only utility use, as reported by ABC7 Chicago.
The endeavor, while focused on new buildings, appears merely as an appetizer in a broader blueprint for the city's environmental outlook. Citing Angela Tovar, Johnson’s commissioner of the newly reopened Department of Environment, the ordinance is heralded as "our responsibility to implement policy initiatives that enable a just transition to a clean energy future," according to the Chicago Tribune. Tovar's ambitions for a new horizon in energy consumption speak to the administration's commitment to not just environmental stewardship but also to concerns over the financial burden of gas utilities on Chicago's residents.
Yet the ordinance's path is neither clear nor uncontested. A coalition of labor unions, led by organizations like Gas Workers Union Local 18007, predict a thousand-foot drop in customers for companies like People's Gas annually, an outcome likely to cause a ruckus in the sector. Alongside this opposition, Alderman Gilbert Villegas of the 36th Ward is leveraging a thorough examination of the proposed law's ripple effects before it's set in stone. Villegas raised concerns about the ordinance's reach and the potential cost of retrofitting for households, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Despite these protests, proponents remain steadfast – envisioning a city that's both greener and more pocketbook-friendly. The legislation boasts backing from environmental groups and some business leaders alike. It sets a 25-kilogram carbon dioxide emission cap per million British thermal units of energy for new buildings except for those like hospitals and research labs, as explained by Chicago Tribune. Echoing hope for a sustainable future, Johnson, and allies like Alderwoman Maria Hadden, pitch the ordinance as a "first baby steps" toward realigning the metropolis with impending environmental imperatives and a handshake with cleaner, more affordable living.
