SPUR supports Senate Bill 7, the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021, which would extend for four years the end date of the AB 900 Environmental Leadership Development Projects program. This provides expedited CEQA administrative and judicial review for projects with a minimum investment of $100 million that are certified LEED Gold or better and more.

Over the next century, the San Francisco Bay Area will face three major challenges: adapting to a changing climate, adding infill development to accommodate a growing population, and maintaining natural and working lands in the face of development pressure. A new report outlines how nature-based solutions can maximize community preparedness for future climate conditions while providing a wide variety of benefits to people and ecosystems.

In 2019, San José showed extraordinary climate leadership in prohibiting natural gas in new residential construction, joining a regional movement to decarbonize the built environment. Electrifying buildings brings multiple benefits: it reduces San José’s climate emissions and increases energy resilience in the face of increasing wildfire threats. All-electric buildings eliminate the air pollutants from natural gas combustion and are more cost-effective to build.

SPUR commends the City of Oakland for proposing an expansive policy for the electrification of new construction. The Proposed Code For All-Electric Construction In Newly Constructed Buildings is a critical step towards broader building decarbonization efforts in the region.