More than three months have passed since the Eaton and Palisades fires devastated over 16,251 homes and buildings, and the rebuilding process is now underway in Los Angeles.
With the debris from the fires cleared away, both Los Angeles city and county are beginning to issue building permits, offering hope to many homeowners who have lost their properties.
One critical decision these homeowners face as they embark on the rebuilding journey is whether to reinstall gas appliances or opt for all-electric alternatives.
California’s policy is clear: it aims to transition away from reliance on natural gas in buildings, promoting the switch to electric options instead.
Climate activists are advocating for homeowners to select electric appliances, but persuading those who have just endured the trauma of a wildfire to make this significant change is proving challenging.
For instance, Shawn Maestretti, a landscape architect whose home in Altadena was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, voices a common concern.
“I love cooking with gas. I didn’t learn how to cook with electric,” he shares, emphasizing his preference and the need for more information about the implications of switching to electric.
Maestretti questions the sources of the electricity that powers his potential new home, noting that approximately 60% of California’s electricity is derived from zero-carbon sources according to federal data for 2023.
He feels overwhelmed by the decision-making required for rebuilding, stating, “I have questions, naturally, and it’s too soon for me to be making decisions about this right now.”
The debate also hinges on whether the city should mandate all-electric homes or allow homeowners the choice.
Buildings contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions; nearly a third of climate-warming gases originate from them, primarily due to burning natural gas.
This highlights the importance of electrification as a vital strategy for mitigating climate change, transitioning from methane gas towards electric appliances and systems powered by a cleaner energy grid.
In response to the fires, a coalition named Rebuild LA S.A.F.E. (Secure, Affordable, Fast and Electric) has formed, advocating for rebuilding efforts that exclude gas.
Following the fires, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order aimed at expediting the permit approval process for homeowners.
This initially included restoring gas appliances for those rebuilding similar homes; however, in a development favoring climate advocates, an update allowed for quicker permits for homeowners opting for all-electric systems.
Still, the choice of gas remains available despite a 2022 city ordinance that generally requires electricity for most new buildings.
Aleksandar Pavlović, president of the environmental nonprofit Resilient Palisades, underlines the importance of this choice, saying, “That would be ideal.”
Having also lost his home in the Palisades wildfire, he expresses support for the idea of rebuilding without gas but recognizes that it’s essential for others to have the freedom to decide for themselves.
Savannah Bradley, a co-founder of the Altadena Recovery Team and fellow member of the coalition, emphasizes understanding the emotional landscape in these trying times.
“We understand that in a time of crisis when people are looking for stability, it’s really hard to present what may be a new idea,” she cautions.
Instead of enforcing an all-electric mandate, the coalition aims to persuade as many homeowners as possible to make the switch.
Many people might have contemplated eliminating gas appliances before the wildfires, making it potentially easier for them to consider the transition now.
For Jaime Rodriguez, who lived in his Altadena home for two-and-a-half years prior to the Eaton Fire, the rebuilding process represents an opportunity to create a more environmentally friendly space.
Rodriguez describes plans to construct a passive home characterized by an airtight design and superior insulation that drastically reduces energy consumption.
Before the fire, he had already begun switching gas appliances to electric ones, having replaced a gas furnace for a highly efficient heat pump that saved him money.
He now looks forward to using an electric induction stove, which not only focuses on energy efficiency but also alleviates health concerns associated with gas cooking.
Expressing a desire to rebuild better, Rodriguez states, “I’m a big advocate of building back better, and building back better is without gas.”
However, he respectfully acknowledges the need for patience and flexibility, affirming that he would not want to impose this decision on others who have faced tremendous loss.
Contrastingly, for residents like Lupe Sanchez, the idea of switching to all-electric appliances was never considered until now.
Although her home remains standing, she recounts how the fire damaged her roof, now covered with a blue tarp, and left her with water damage from the recent rainstorm.
Sanchez admits, “I haven’t heard anything about [going all-electric] at all,” when asked about updating her appliances.
Cooking with gas remains essential for her; she states, “Well, yeah, that’s how I cook. That’s how I had my dryer running, you know, on gas.”
The preference for gas cooking, combined with her reluctance to consider electric options, brings her to a firm conclusion: she is not interested in switching at this time.
Historical actions by gas utilities have played a role in shaping opinions on gas cooking. These companies have often employed tobacco-style tactics to undermine scientific research pointing to potential health risks related to gas stove usage.
These strategies have helped them avoid meaningful regulation while simultaneously boosting the cult of gas cooking through extensive marketing campaigns.
Despite these formidable obstacles, climate advocates remain dedicated to changing hearts and minds. The California-based Building Decarbonization Coalition is actively providing information and technical support to homeowners.
“Many of these homeowners have never built a house—never intended to build a house,” explains Beckie Menten, California director for the coalition.
The sudden need to make countless decisions, many of which they never anticipated, adds to the overwhelming nature of the rebuilding process.
This coalition has found success by emphasizing the potential cost savings associated with building an all-electric home.
Menten states, “We estimate that you can save somewhere between $7,000 and $10,000 in construction and appliance costs by building an all-electric home as opposed to a dual-fuel home.”
Among the many savings, a solely electric home eliminates the need for new gas pipes, thus decreasing overall construction expenditures.
In its response to the fires, local gas utility SoCalGas has not participated in interviews with reporters but has released statements expressing support for customers during the rebuilding process.
They report that approximately half of the 30,300 customers who initially lost gas service due to the fires have since had it restored.
Climate groups are keen to convert those whose services are still suspended into advocates for all-electric appliances.
As the rebuilding efforts proceed in the wake of the devastating fires, the choice between gas and electric appliances will remain a focal point of discussion, illustrating the substantial intersection between recovery and climate action.
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