County-led electrification roadmap outlines steps for all-electric buildings and local coordination

County sustainability staff presented a countywide Building Electrification Roadmap and urged cities, including Mill Valley, to use it as guidance for coordinated action on decarbonizing buildings.

Christine O’Rourke, sustainability coordinator for the Marin Climate and Energy Partnership, said the roadmap responds to a 2022 civil grand-jury recommendation for a coordinated countywide approach. “The primary reason for doing this is that it's going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” O’Rourke said, adding that electrification also reduces indoor pollutants and improves resilience because electricity can often be restored faster than gas service after major events.

What the roadmap recommends: The document, developed over 16 months with a steering committee of municipal staff, utilities and community groups, lists 10 recommended actions, including: - a central public hub for electrification information and incentives; - consideration of advanced green-building and electrification reach codes when the statewide code updates take effect in 2026; - permit-streamlining and incentive programs to reduce installation friction; - low-cost financing to offset panel or equipment upgrades; - workforce training and contractor development; - coordination with PG&E on grid interconnection and distribution upgrades; and - pilot neighborhood-scale electrification and gas-infrastructure decommissioning projects.

State and regional context: O’Rourke noted Bay Area Air Quality Management District rules phasing in prohibitions on new gas water heaters and furnaces (0 NOx rules beginning in 2027 and 2029) and said jurisdictions should prepare for broader appliance market shifts. She emphasized the roadmap is advisory and intended to help local governments remove barriers so residents can access heat-pump water heaters, heat-pump space heating and electric cooking.

Council comments and practical concerns: Council members asked about practical barriers such as electrical-panel upgrades and whether “smart” circuit-management solutions can reduce required panel capacity for homes. Staff said options exist to prioritize loads and avoid full panel upgrades in some cases; the council asked staff to return with more detail and rebate/financing options.

Why it matters: Mill Valley’s climate goals and the countywide greenhouse-gas inventory show a large share of emissions comes from building energy use and burning fossil gas; electrification of heating and hot water systems is widely viewed as a high-impact pathway to reduce those emissions and protect indoor air quality.

Next steps: City staff said they will continue to partner with the county and regional entities on reach-code analysis for the 2026 state code cycle, update council on financing and rebate options, and align local outreach and workforce programs with countywide efforts.