Petaluma Ban Fuels Interest In Other Areas: Report

PETALUMA, CA — What happens in Petaluma doesn’t necessarily stay in Petaluma.

The North Bay city’s move to implement the nation’s first ban on new gas stations has apparently fueled interest outside in neighboring Marin County, The Marin Independent Journal reports.

Petaluma Mayor Teresa Barrett has received interested about the measure from officials in at least one East Bay city and another in the Peninsula, the report said.

Novato Mayor Pat Eklund told the news outlet that her city is giving the idea a serious look.

“That is something that we should definitely take a look at is prohibiting uses that are not in concurrence with the attempts to try to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and really try to promote more environmental sustainability,” Eklund said.

The Novato City Council last month approved a 14-pump Costco fueling station against the organized opposition from environmental groups.

The fueling station will also feature10 rapid-charging Level 3 EV chargers.

The Petaluma City Council on March 1 voted unanimously to ban the building, expanding, reconstructing or relocating gas stations, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The move aims to help the city of meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, the report said.

Read more in The Marin Independent Journal