The city of Petaluma has banned new gasoline stations, hoping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to push its residents into higher cost electric vehicles
The City Council of Petaluma, California, has voted to ban new gasoline stations in order to reduce gasoline availability to motorists and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. The ban does not include existing gas stations, but existing gas stations will not be allowed to add new gas pumps. Instead, they are encouraged to build electric charging bays. The legislation will also streamline the process for adding more electric vehicle infrastructure like electric charging bays and hydrogen fuel cell facilities. The new prohibition is part of Petaluma's plan to completely phase out carbon emissions by 2030. Petaluma, located 30 miles north of San Francisco, has about 60,000 people. It is 15 square miles in size and has 16 operational gas stations. Neighborhood opposition in Petaluma to a new Safeway gas station prompted years of litigation and promoted the permanent ban on new stations.
