The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a lawsuit against two cities in California, aiming to prevent local laws that prohibit natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new buildings, claiming these regulations violate federal law.
In a complaint submitted on Monday to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the Justice Department contested the natural gas bans implemented by the cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma. Federal authorities argue that these ordinances increase energy costs for consumers and are at odds with federal standards that govern natural gas appliances and infrastructure.
The lawsuit states that the bans effectively prevent the installation of gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, dryers, and other appliances that are typically found in American households. The Justice Department maintains that such limitations are overridden by federal law and compromise national energy policy.
“These natural gas bans hurt American families and are outright illegal,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement, adding that the department is working with the Department of Energy to roll back what she described as radical environmental policies.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the measures threaten access to reliable and affordable energy, particularly during winter months, and should not be decided by local governments.
The Justice Department is asking the court to declare the ordinances invalid and to issue a permanent injunction preventing their enforcement. The lawsuit marks the latest federal action challenging state and local energy policies. Earlier this year, the department filed a brief supporting a legal challenge to a similar natural gas ban enacted by New York City.
City officials in Morgan Hill and Petaluma have not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit.
