SACRAMENTO — The California Restaurant Association yesterday filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit in its lawsuit challenging the City of Berkeley’s ban on natural gas in buildings. 

The district court ruled in the CRA’s favor on standing and ripeness and agreed with much of the CRA’s analysis, but concluded that federal energy law was not meant to preempt local regulation of natural gas piping in buildings.  The CRA believes it has a strong position in front of the Ninth Circuit and intends to continue fighting to protect the interests of its members in using natural gas in their restaurants and for cooking.  California restaurants have contended with many serious obstacles recently, and this is one more hurdle they should not have to face.   

“This shouldn’t need to be said, but the loss of flame cooking in restaurant settings would dramatically impact restaurant kitchens, where chefs rely on gas stoves to grill vegetables, sear meats and create meals of all kinds inspired by cuisines from all over the world,” said California Restaurant Association President and CEO, Jot Condie. “Any law mandating the use of electric rather than gas stoves reduces those choices, and is also likely to impact what restaurants pay for energy in the future.”