LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Joseph Bellino on Wednesday introduced legislation to stop local governments from prohibiting the use of natural gas in Michigan homes and businesses.
“Allowing local governments to ban the use of clean and affordable natural gas — creating a patchwork of energy laws across the state — is bad for our economy and for Michigan families and small businesses,” said Bellino, R-Monroe. “This bill would stop these dangerous policies from coming to our state, where most people use natural gas to heat their homes.
“In addition to the enormous impact local bans on natural gas use would have on housing affordability and new business investment, we simply don’t have the electrical infrastructure needed to replace natural gas as a source of energy.”
Senate Bill 275 would prohibit a county, city, village or township in Michigan from adopting or enforcing an ordinance, resolution or policy banning the use of natural gas or the installation of natural gas infrastructure.
In 2019, Berkeley, California, became the first U.S. city to ban natural gas connections in new buildings. Currently, jurisdictions in California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and Washington, along with the District of Columbia, have enacted restrictions on natural gas use in new construction.
In response, 25 states have passed similar laws that prohibit local governments from restricting natural gas use.
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