Federal Judge Rules EPCA Does Not Preempt Berkeley Natural Gas Ban

A federal judge has ruled that the Energy Policy & Conservation Act (EPCA) does not preempt the California city of Berkeley’s landmark ordinance banning natural gas hookups at new residential and commercial developments, possibly setting a precedent that could help other cities adopt similar rules to limit the use of the fuel as a way to address climate change. In a July 6 order in California Restaurant Association (CRA) v. City of Berkeley , Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the...