Got natural gas? That could change if you move to Seattle

The Seattle City Council may soon vote to ban natural gas in new buildings. Council Member Mike O'Brien is the lead sponsor of a measure to do that in order to combat climate change.

Natural gas plays a huge role in the world's and Seattle's climate problem. A city report from 2016 said 25 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in Seattle came from natural gas (as well as more than 71 percent of citywide building GHG emissions).

Like a lot of people, back about 25 years ago O’Brien said his own family got natural gas installed in their new home because they believed it was a cleaner, more “environmentally friendly” fuel. It’s a decision that he now regrets due to newer information about the role natural gas plays in a warming planet.

Natural gas does emit less carbon dioxide than fuels like coal or oil. But natural gas is mostly methane, which is a far more potent greenhouse gas.

O’Brien also said with an increase in hydraulic fracturing or “fracking" in recent decades, the source of natural gas is now much dirtier today than it used to be.

What’s the alternative to natural gas? All of Seattle's electricity is “carbon neutral” according to City Light — a calculation that includes some carbon offsets.

But what about the home chefs who believe natural gas is far superior? O'Brien said newer electric appliances like induction ovens probably have gas heat. According to many top chefs, “this is the best way to cook,” O’Brien said.

In a written statement, Puget Sound Energy told KUOW, “Natural gas is what our customers use every day to heat their homes, to cook, and to do laundry. It’s an essential part of our energy mix that ensures the lights stay on and the heat is running when our customers need it most—on the coldest days of the year when the wind isn’t blowing and sun isn’t shining.”

On those very coldest days PSE said about two thirds of the total energy that fuels buildings citywide comes from natural gas.

The proposed new construction rule would ban natural gas piping systems in all new buildings starting next summer.

The council's Sustainability and Transportation Committee is scheduled to take the natural gas ban up Friday at 1 p.m.