Federal court overturns Berkeley's ban on natural gas in new construction.

A federal appeals court has overturned Berkeley, California's ban on natural gas in new construction, agreeing with restaurant owners who argued the city bypassed federal energy regulations when it approved the ordinance. The measure, which took effect in 2020 to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, was intended to ban new residential and commercial buildings from installing natural gas piping in favor of electrical lines. The California Restaurant Association claimed the regulation violated federal law that gives the U.S. government authority to set energy-efficiency standards for appliances such as stoves, furnaces, and water heaters.