The agenda is here:

Had some technical difficulties, but we’re in the public comment period. The next speaker is a development consultant—who supports the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance, and encourages the city to embrace more climate-friendly technology in households.

Next speaker reps Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition. Talks about the effects of burning gas indoors and her father’s experience of being harmed by it. “What does it mean to have the ability to eliminate something detrimental to the health of residents and leave it in place?”

Next speaker is a member of Sierra Club and lives in the 47th ward where air quality is good. Supports it as a “commonsense initiative” to improve health and well-being.

They have a quorum now, so they’re taking a pause for a quorum call.

They have a quorum. Back to public comment! Next speaker talks about fossil fuels as an “existential crisis.” Talks about how other cities have passed similar ordinances to the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance and how Chicago needs to do its part.

More context about the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance, which would create emission standards to eliminate the use of fossil fuels in new buildings and push for cleaner energy:

Next speaker represents National Resource Defense Council and urges the committee to vote yes. She talks about a report they commissioned which found economic benefits of implementing this for households.

Next speaker talks about how we’re experiencing a climate emergency and need to reduce green house gas emissions. Spoke about how electric installations cost less than gas installations.

Next speaker works with People for Community Recovery. Cites research how 1/5 asthma cases can be attributed to indoor gas and talks about how the legacy of industrial pollution harms neighborhoods. Urges council to pass CABO.

Alders Lawson and Knudsen are here now. The next speaker represents building association and talks about how some consumers prefer gas. “It shouldn’t be a binary.” Wants to focus on a dialogue process looking at the impact that CABO might bring and other ways to reduce emissions.

FYI this is a subject matter hearing—no votes will be taken.

GEORGE BLAKEMORE is OUR LAST SPEAKER! He says it’s all about the money and points to alders. “We need a change, not only with our energy but with our alders.” I think of him often:

First order of business is to approve November 2023 Rule 45 Report for the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy, which they do immediately.

Back to the Clean and Affordable Business Ordinance! Chairwoman Maria Hadden talks about it—will impact only 0.5% of Chicago’s building stock. It doesn’t apply to older buildings, will restrict fossil fuel combustion in new ones and focus on emissions to keep open to clean alts.

She says there’s been a lot of disinformation out about what this will impact and how this will take away jobs. Some representatives from labor unions are joining to talk about how this could change their work.

Angela Tovar, the Chief Sustainability Officer at the City of Chicago, is here with colleagues to testify: The burning of fossil fuels is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The last decade has been the hottest on record, and we’ve seen flooding and air pollution.

In July, the city did a Heat Watch to see how temperatures vary across neighborhoods, finding a 22-degree difference between some. There is extreme heat, but there are also disparities in who is experiencing them. More info on that:

Buildings account for ~70% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Chicago, so it’s central to climate and emissions, says Tovar. Chicago Department of Public Health is worried about health consequences. Low emissions tech can save money because of federal funding through the IRA.

Tovar says this has come out of recommendations from a decarbonization working group. Talks about past initiatives, like Retrofit Chicago, which was a voluntary program to make buildings more energy efficient. In 2022, allocated money toward low and middle-income retrofits.

She emphasizes that it’s not a ban on emerging technologies, just fossil fuels. The ordinance has exceptions to systems where it's necessary, like emergency backup power or industrial/commercial production.

Tovar shares some key facts to combat misinformation: 1) CABO only impacts new construction, 2) Chicago’s electric grid generates enough for this increase and is on track to be 100% clean by 2050.

More Tovar fun facts: 3) Heat pumps work in Chicago’s cold and are 2x as efficient as fossil fuel or electric resistance heating systems, 4) Fossil fuel-free buildings are affordable to construct/maintain, and a 2022 Energy Futures Group report found that it saved people money.

Tovar says the Inflation Reduction Act offers chances to adapt to CABO and invest in local economies. Also talks about equitable decarbonization initiatives to make sure nobody is left behind.

We're now hearing from Grant Ulrich from the Department of Buildings who says this will benefit Chicago. He says it will impact at most 600 to 900 buildings annually, which is not a lot because many new buildings already comply with these emissions standards.

Kate McMahon from the Chicago Department of Public Health talks about how climate change poses great threats to physical and mental health—and disproportionately to marginalized communities. Says this is a critical first step toward a more just and equitable Chicago.

A representative from the Department of Labor talks about how transitioning to clean energy will not reduce the labor needed in the industry. Cites research showing that energy jobs are growing and emphasizes that the transition to clean energy “creates good-paying union jobs.”

Alder Tabaras (23rd) asks how labor unions are involved in the ordinance's development. Tovar says that the decarbonization working group ended, but there is an open call to engage—moved on to 1:1s on the issue. Tabaras wants them to make a working group with labor unions.

“How are we going to sustain union jobs with this ordinance?” asks Tabaras. Tovar says it’s important to include their perspectives.

Tabaras asks about how the cost will impact existing customers whose buildings can’t go electric. “How will they bear the cost for this?” Tovar’s colleague emphasizes that CABO only impacts new buildings but will look into as existing ones transition away from gas.

Tabaras asks why it doesn’t impact commercial kitchens. Dept of Housing representative says the technology isn’t there to replace yet. Tabaras says she strongly opposes this ordinance because labor is not at the table.

Alder Daniel La Spata (1st) says that there were labor organizations at the table who were supportive and skeptical. Reminds everyone we’re not talking about retrofitting, just emissions standards for new buildings.

La Spata just retrofitted his home, and he likes it. From his personal experience, he feels like there is a lot of misinformation out there about the cost.

Also, La Spata has questions. He asks, is it less expensive to build an all-electric home in Chicago compared to a mixed-fuel home? The Dept of Housing person says yes—it has been in other cities. Tovar’s colleague says they’re working on a report.

Alder Villegas (36th) asks them to comment on Berkeley repealing their natural gas ban because it got preempted under federal law. A Dept of Law representative says they’re happy to talk after. Villegas asks about a lawsuit in New York. (If you’re a little confused, I am too.)

Hadden says the outcome for New York has yet to be determined. Villegas is concerned about a report that he’s going to circulate from ComEd, which said that the state hadn’t taken equity questions into account while making the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

Alder Will Hall (6th) asks about the implementation timeline. Dept of Housing person says likely next spring or summer. Hall also asks about how many jobs it will create. Tovar says Illinois currently ranks 5th in the country on clean energy job creation and is growing.

Alder Bill Conway (34th) asks about the Inflation Reduction Act—are there set emissions standards that they need to meet to access IRA funding? Hadden says no, but you won’t be eligible for IRA funding for something with fossil fuels.

Conway asks if recent ComEd outages during ice storms impacted whether the city thought the electric grid was ready? Hadden says that’s a question for ComEd in the next segment, which will be up in the next segment. Conway is concerned about the electric grid's reliability.

Alders Nicole Lee (11th) asks how this will impact projects currently in the works. Dept of Housing person says it will apply depending on when your building application is officially submitted. They also discuss retrofitting programs and rebates available for existing houses.

Alder Ray Lopez (15th) is listing off orgs from emails between the city on the ordinance’s draft language and believes that utility companies and labor unions have been excluded from the conversation. Tovar talks about how orgs have been engaged, including labor.

Lopez feels that Tovar has not been honest about when the bill was developed. Hadden says, “We don’t need a lecture on your opinions....it is disingenuous for you to make a claim that this is not a legitimate part of the collaboration.” She reminds the room that this is a draft.

Lopez asks how much did the Home Builders Association contribute to this? Tovar says that their recommendations were included, and a representative was active in the working group. Lopez says he wants to make sure we don’t have a “rogue” department.

Alder Ben Lawson (44th) wants to know what steps we have to take for more complex projects. While talking with developers, he asks if developers incur more costs? Dept of Housing rep says that developers aren’t raising cost issues but some supply chain issues.

Lawson asks if there is anything in the ordinance on how long it should take to connect these buildings to the grid. No, they say, but it’s something to consider. Lawson also asks about rehabs and if there is a threshold they have to meet—they say it’s something to explore.

Alder David Moore (17th) thanks Chairwoman Hadden and says he likes decarbonization. He doesn’t want to use “scare tactics” while talking with people about the consequences of natural gas indoors to their health. There are clarifying questions about natural gas and alternatives.

FYI: We have come to the end of the first segment, of which there are five. Afterward, we will hear from Com-Ed, People’s Gas, some environmental organizations, and labor groups. This will be the longest one, though!

They are breaking for a few minutes. I, too, will set out in search for a sandwich and return shortly.

Scott Vogt from ComED, one of the largest energy utility in Illinois, is here to present on how CABO impacts their ability to keep providing electricity. In 2023, 127 terawatt hours were produced in their service territory. 31% of this electricity was exported elsewhere.

88 terawatt hours were produced through clean energy. Vogt says their electric service is built for the summer, which is when everyone runs their air conditioner.

Today, most customers use gas for heat in the winter. But if electricity is more used in the winter, he says their grid is equipped with enough clean energy to keep up with new developments and new residents through CABO since the ordinance is limited.

It’s question time! Alder Lawson asks what ComEd can do about the delay in getting on the electric grid. Vogt says it’s an industry-wide challenge to get more transformers. He says That they hope to address that through a grid plan as large energy users come to the region.

Alder Lee asks how they’re planning for increased electrical usage and their capacity. Vogt says they’re thinking about this while investing in the grid. Technology is also changing fast to become more efficient, and many customers are adopting solar to produce their own power.

Vogt says this will be a decades-long investment, and like the city, they are planning for 40 to 50 years from now. His biggest fear is not the capacity of the grid but the capacity of energy generation, he says.

Lee asks about potential electric outages to the system. Vogt’s colleague at ComEd says their interruption rate was 0.33 last year—4x better than the national average of 1.25—and their average interruption length is also shorter than the national average.

We’re taking another break before People’s Gas comes up to the box. Part 3 of 5 coming right up.

After the briefest break ever, Peoples Gas is here with their VP Salvador Arana. Committed to Chicago’s clean energy goals but is concerned about mandating only one energy source because it inhibits consumer choice.

They believe CABO is inequitable because declining numbers of customers will have to pay the costs of natural gas system and that it costs more.

Arana feels that the costs of moving to an all-electric system, which is not the goal of CABO but something proponents have expressed a desire to do in the future, will be too high. Also feels that reliability must be better addressed.

Alder Lopez thanks Peoples Gas and says we cannot sacrifice the present for the future. Peoples Gas representative says that it will be difficult to get enough electricity to both heat homes in winter and cool homes in summer.

Lopez sent the committee something in January that said to focus on driving carbon emissions down instead. In Back of the Yards, he says if they focused on decreasing waste, it could lower emissions rather than changing how developers build.

Alder Marty Quinn (13th) asks what they meant by inequitable. Arana says that constituents who remain on the gas will absorb the ongoing cost and their bills will go up. Quinn asks if this will impact their workforce, and Arana says it could.

Alder Lee wants to talk about carbon capture and what their projects on renewable energy are. Arana will circle back. Peoples Gas emphasizes having a choice because the system for all-electrical is not there yet.

Hadden asks about a pilot program Peoples Gas has to put renewable natural gas in their system—representative says it’s not commercially viable at a mass scale.

Alder Villegas asks if Peoples Gas was allowed to participate in the city’s roundtables—Arana says yes but not as a stakeholder. Chairwoman Hadden asks if they could provide info on comparable markets.

Hadden also asks what percent of upgrades to aging infrastructure have been completed. They say 38%. She asks how much longer Chicagoans will have to wait to complete system upgrades. They say they’ve paused but are working with the ICC to determine.

She asks if these new technologies like renewable natural gas or hydrogen could meet the ordinance’s new standard. They say no on renewable natural gas and not yet on hydrogen. This concludes the third segment.

Now, we are at part 4! If you are here, you have great endurance.

Citizens Utility Board’s Moskowitz says we need CABO because it will be cheaper and better for people who chronically can't afford their gas bills. The situation was so dire that the state paused Peoples Gas’ pipe replacement program because it hadn’t improved service, she says.

She believes this is a crucial matter of public health that Peoples Gas has tried to minimize. One study found that electric-heated households saved $15,000 and $20,000 over a 20-year period. “CABO is about wise planning,” she says and makes a pathway to more affordable bills.

Next speaker, whose org I missed, talks about how electrifying buildings at the start of a project is more efficient and saves money. With the city’s goal to decrease emissions, there are more jobs in clean energy than ever, she says, and construction skillsets needed transfer.

Next speaker is AJ Patton, founder of 548 Development, which builds electrified affordable housing in Chicago. “Our communities have been dealing with this for decades.” He supports CABO because tenants see reduced bills and strong returns to investment and create good jobs.

Alder Moore asks AJ Patton why he chose electric. Alder Conway asks what city council should think about. Patton says it should be paired with higher standards for building insulation, increase solar paneling, and ensure city is prepared for it.

Alder Manaa-Hoppenworth asks questions to CUB’s Sarah Moskowitz, who says there is a future for hydrogen in other sectors, but she doesn’t think that renewable natural gas is scalable or safe now, so it’s not much use talking about.

Manaa-Hoppenworth asks how passing CABO will impact her bills. Moskowitz says CABO will have no impact on rates because it is only for new construction. Gas costs are already high in Chicago, but heat pumps are more efficient—consumer demand is high because of it.

Villegas asks Moskowitz about what pollutants come from burning gas in the home, and she talks about how it can spread around the home and is impossible to prevent. Villegas asks why CABO doesn’t include restaurants as well.

Hadden mentions that restaurants are required to have ventilation goods. Villegas wants a ventilation ordinance instead of getting rid of gas. Alas, this would not help with emissions, says Hadden.

Villegas wants Moskowitz’ thoughts on COBA making an energy monopoly, and she says consumer choice is not worth it if the options are bad.

Finally, we have reached part 5! Please clap.

We’re now hearing from our guests in labor.

Mark Poulos is representing Local 150—he believes a sudden shift can jeopardize electric grid reliability and the affordability of gas can’t be overlooked. “Anyone in favor of an all-electric household does not need an ordinance to achieve that goal. They can do that today.”

Tim Gillooley with Local 597, whose members largely work in the natural gas industry, believes CABO will make conditions worse and increase gas bills to those who can’t get off that.

Representative from Local 18007 doesn’t think natural gas is creating benzene and believes the cost of converting to electric is too high—thinks we should just focus on upgrading gas system.

Hadden thanks everyone. With no further business before the board, the meeting is adjourned.

Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy meeting ends at 7:21 PM. This ends my coverage for @chidocumenters. For more meeting coverage, check out Tim Hogan’s notes, which will be published very soon: