A Senate panel decided Wednesday that cities cannot forbid developers from constructing new buildings that use natural gas.
The decision by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources was popular with restaurant owners. They say cooks prefer natural gas because it comes on instantly and is less expensive. That drew concern from Sen. Juan Mendez (D-Tempe) who was more focused on climate change.
"Is it your position that climate change, global warming, all that's just way too hard and expensive and that because we like to cook a certain way we should just keep maintaining this process," Mendez said, "even though it's bad for the environment and our future?''
Senate President Karen Fann (R-Prescott) said issues of energy policy and climate change are best dealt with by the state as a whole. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
