California city bans building new gas stations
–Axios reports–
The Petaluma City Council recently voted to outlaw new gas stations, the first of what climate activists hope will be numerous cities and counties to do so.
Expect more such ordinances, particularly in more liberal towns, Axios says. Grassroots groups are popping up with the mission of spreading this type of ban and forcing pollution cleanups at existing gas stations. The movement aims to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles.
“This is not a ban on the existing gas stations, which are providing all the gas currently needed,” Matt Krogh, U.S. oil and gas campaign director for the environmental group Stand.earth, tells Axios. “The problem with allowing new gas stations is we don’t really need them and they’re putting existing gas stations out of business.” The group says 30 cities have issued some type of ban on new gas stations.
The move mirrors recent actions by cities, like the City of San Luis Obispo, to ban natural gas hookups in new construction.
