A debate between restaurateurs and environmentalists is heating up in California. Earlier this year, Berkeley, California, became the first city in the USA to approve an ordinance to begin phasing out the use of natural gas pipes in new construction. Now, arguing that chefs need to be able to cook over fire, the California Restaurant Association has sued Berkeley in an attempt to block the move towards the gas ban.
The move away from gas is a part of Berkeley’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Supporters of the ban said that the use and transportation of natural gas make up around 27 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions and 73 percent of its building sector emissions.
“Restaurants rely on natural gas for such things as food preparation and heating space and water, and even providing backup power during electrical outages,” said the California Restaurant Association. “Many of these restaurants rely on gas for cooking particular types of food, whether it be flame-seared meats, charred vegetables or the use of intense heat from a flame under a wok.”
“Indeed, restaurants specialising in international foods so prized in the Bay Area will be unable to prepare many of their specialities without natural gas.”
