Journal of Science Policy & Governance
Volume 21, Issue 01 | October 17, 2022

Policy Memo: Overcoming State-Level Preemption to Electrify New Buildings: a Philadelphia Case Study

Maura E. Gibbs (1,2), Zakaria Hsain (1,3), Erin K. Reagan (1,4), Shannon Wolfman (1,5), Anne-Marie Zaccarin (1,6)
  1. University of Pennsylvania, Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group, Philadelphia, PA.
  2. University of Pennsylvania, Department of Chemistry, Philadelphia, PA.
  3. University of Pennsylvania, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Philadelphia, PA.
  4. University of Pennsylvania, Infectious Disease Division, Philadelphia, PA.
  5. University of Pennsylvania, Department of Neuroscience, Philadelphia, PA.
  6. University of Pennsylvania, Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Philadelphia, PA.   ​
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Corresponding author: mgibbs@sas.upenn.edu​
Keywords: natural gas; building codes; electrification; local government; climate change
https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG210104​

Executive Summary

The use of natural gas in heating and cooking negatively impacts environmental and human health. As government investments in clean energy production continue to increase, replacing natural gas appliances with electric alternatives is imperative to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect public health. As a large US city with robust emissions reduction goals, Philadelphia, PA must significantly reduce natural gas use in buildings. However, many states, including PA, have advanced legislation that preemptively restricts municipalities from banning natural gas use. Using Philadelphia as a case study, we propose policy options, including electric appliance rebates, electrification incentives, and building efficiency standards, that US municipalities can pursue to circumvent state preemption laws in electrifying new construction, significantly reducing natural gas demand, and advancing their net-zero emissions goals.

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Background header image courtesy of Bruce.Emmerling
Maura E. Gibbs is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania where she researches the chemical upcycling of polyolefins through transition metal catalysis. Maura is a member of the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group.

Zakaria Hsain is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group. His academic interests span electrochemistry, materials science, macroeconomics, and energy policy.

Erin K. Reagan is a Ph.D. candidate in the Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group at the University of Pennsylvania, researching mRNA vaccine design for infectious diseases. She is also President Emerita of the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy group.

Shannon Wolfman was a post-doctoral researcher in the Neuroscience Department at the University of Pennsylvania and the President of the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group. She is currently the Global Climate Change Fellow at Annual Reviews. 
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Anne-Marie Zaccarin is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group. Her research interests include microelectromechanical systems and passive wireless sensing.

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