12 • 08 • 2021
Solana Beach Electrification Ordinance
On December 8, 2021, the Solana Beach City Council passed a building electrification ordinance for new constructions and major remodels.
Solana Beach is the second city in San Diego County to pass an electrification ordinance, following Encinitas. The Solana Beach ordinance requires that both major remodels and new building constructions forego any reliance on fossil fuel infrastructure, i.e. natural gas hookups, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the city, the county, and state achieve their climate goals. The ordinance includes the following requirements for new residential and commercial constructions:
- Electric only space conditioning, water heating and clothes dryer systems
- Photovoltaics on commercial construction
- Pre-wired battery storage
- Electric ready buildings
- EV Infrastructure requirements
Currently, natural gas is the third largest contributor of GHG emissions in California. For more information, you can read the San Diego County Chapter policy statement on electrification. Our chapter’s Climate Change committee advocated for this ordinance via letters to the council, public comments at council meetings, and coalition sign-on letters.