In 1971, Jonathan Edwards released a song called Sunshine, and part of the lyrics are:

Sunshine go away today
I don’t feel much like dancing
Some man’s gone, he’s tried to run my life
Don’t know what he’s asking

He tells me I’d better get in line
Can’t hear what he’s saying
When I grow up, I’m going to make it mine
But these aren’t dues I been paying

How much does it cost, I’ll buy it
The time is all we’ve lost, I’ll try it
But he can’t even run his own life
I’ll be damned if he’ll run mine, Sunshine

Well, there certainly are a whole lot of people who want to run other people’s lives! From The Denver Gazette:

Denver imposes natural gas ban on heating, cooling equipment in commercial buildings, multi-family housing

Scott Weiser | Monday, February 27, 2023

New building codes in Denver will ban natural gas furnaces and water heaters in new commercial and multifamily construction starting in 2024 in a move that officials said demonstrates the city’s commitment to reaching “zero” emissions in two decades but which critics warned would be painful and costly to building owners and tenants.

And by 2027, natural gas will not be permitted for any heating or cooling equipment in new commercial buildings, the city’s building officials said in a news release.

These restrictions do not apply to gas stoves.

Sheer bovine feces: if natural gas will not be permitted for the primary application for natural gas, heating, it makes no economic sense to apply for and install gas lines for the much lower use in gas ranges.

The new regulations are part of the new building code adopted in January by Denver City Council. City officials claim commercial buildings are responsible for 49% of Denver’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“These progressive new building codes were the result of a strong collaboration between the city and the community,” said Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “Denver has spoken loud and clear that taking climate action is a top priority — codes like these will help get us to zero emissions by 2040.”

The city’s Energize Denver ordinance, which the council approved in 2021, is but the latest in a string of measures at the state and local levels that seeks to quickly transition away from fossil-fired energy. Supporters argue the transition — although they acknowledge it might be painful in the short term — positions Colorado for a more sustainable and energy-efficient future. They also say it helps wean the country from dependence on foreign oil. Ultimately, they add, the transition toward green energy is good for the environment and people’s health.

“(I)t might be painful in the short term”? Painful for whom? Not all that painful for the well-to-do, I would imagine, but doubtlessly painful for working-class people. A YouGov survey last May found that 49% of Americans couldn’t handle an unanticipated $400 emergency expense, but the Denver city government doesn’t care about them.

More, the number one producer of natural gas is the United States, and it isn’t even close. While Russia is second, and has the world’s largest proven natural gas reserves, the US outproduces Russia by an additional 33%. Iran comes in in third place, and the US produces more than 3½ times than Iran. Denver is trying to reduce our usage of the energy produced in the United States, produced by American companies and American workers.

Starting March 1, the city will require applicants to “provide more information about the feasibility of using electric equipment” when seeking a permit for gas equipment. They will have to demonstrate to the city that they have evaluated the feasibility of using electric-powered equipment, checked for gas line leaks, and ensured gas equipment is sized correctly and efficiently, according to the regulations.

Translation: people will have to prove to officious little bureaucrats that they really need the gas appliances or equipment that they want. Their personal choices will require government approval, and the bureaucrats will have a built-in bias for not approving applications.

City officials stressed that starting March 1, the new code does not require electrification, and that in 2027 the electrification requirements will only apply to new construction and replacement of failed or end-of-life heating and cooling systems in existing buildings. Building owners will not be required to remove and replace functioning units.

I note that the Denver Gazette story does not state that such is limited to commercial buildings, meaning that homeowners would have to replace existing gas units with electric ones. Depending upon how the gas heating units are installed, it could mean more than just switching them out; new duct work would be required for units which heated with hot water or steam radiators.

There’s more at the original, but it all comes down to one thing: money. In an already pricey city, with a serious housing shortage, the new rules could raise prices by a guesstimated $30,000 to $60,000 per unit. More, the city’s electrical service would need to be upgraded, to provide more power not only overall, but additionally to individual homes; where a gas heater and range each require just 110-volt, 20-amphere — just 15 amps for ranges — service, an electric heat pump, range, and water heater would require four — two for the heating system — 220-volt circuits, with 40 to 50 amps for the heat pump and range, and 30 for the water heater. These things are not zero cost, and when they have to be added for remodeling, running new circuits through finished walls is labor-intensive and usually requires a lot of finish work as well.

This winter has been rough on the west and the north of our country, with some very significant snowfalls . . . and electric service is our most vulnerable-to-the-weather utility. Water, sewage, and natural gas are all delivered to people’s homes through underground pipes, but electric service is provided via overhead wiring. Even in those newer subdivisions in which the electric service is underground, the primary, high-voltage transmission lines from the power plants are all above ground. In a cold and snowy city like Denver, electric service can be interrupted by winter storms, and interrupted for days. The more well-to-do can afford home generators to keep their places warm, but for the working class? Too bad, so sad, must suck to be you!