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Local operator says fully eliminating natural gas is unrealistic; urges pragmatic approach
Summary
At the Feb. 20 Environmental Sustainability Board meeting, Greg White of Los Alamos urged the board and county council to distinguish aspirational environmental goals from what he called realistic options for heating buildings and pools, citing technical and cost limits of electric heating for large spaces and large bodies of water.
Greg White of Los Alamos spoke during public comment at the Environmental Sustainability Board meeting on Feb. 20, 2025, urging caution about aspirational language that would seek to eliminate natural gas use across the county.
In a five‑minute comment White described his background as a union-trained operating engineer and building-maintenance technician with experience in boiler and pool systems across multiple states. He said smaller gas uses such as stoves and some water heaters are relatively straightforward to convert to electric, but that heating large interior spaces and large volumes of water — for example, an aquatic center pool — typically relies on gas-fired boilers and steam systems and would be inefficient or very costly to replace with electric alternatives under current technology.
White warned that forcing conversions without sufficient alternatives could materially increase costs for homeowners and for large public facilities. He said he supports many of the county’s environmental goals but urged the board and council to factor technical feasibility and cost into timelines and program design. His remarks were delivered as a public comment and did not represent a board position.
