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Petaluma converts mandatory electrification code into voluntary policy amid DOJ litigation
Summary
Following advice from the city attorney, Petaluma's council voted to replace mandatory local electrification requirements with voluntary guidance after the Ninth Circuit's Berkeley ruling and a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit challenging local electrification ordinances.
The Petaluma City Council voted on March 16 to convert the city's local electrification code from mandatory requirements to an advisory policy that encourages but does not require all‑electric construction for new buildings and substantial remodels.
Why: City Attorney Eric Danley summarized a changing legal landscape after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invalidated Berkeley's prohibition on gas infrastructure in April 2023 and noted that the U.S. Department of Justice subsequently filed suit against Petaluma (and Morgan Hill) in January 2026 alleging preemption under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Danley recommended removing mandatory…
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