I don't really have a position on the issue one way or the other, but it is insane how quickly this somewhat small issue (compared to stuff that everyone has been talking about for decades, like abortion) became part of the culture war, I already see "come and take it" memes being made.
My conspiracy theory is that I think this is a grift by the gas companies. Statistically very little gas is used on cooking almost all on heating etc. But almost all gas lobbying spend is based around cooking because it's the easiest place to manipulate folks. Look up the cringe "COOKING WITH GAS!" music videos produced by the gas companies years ago. Climate Town did a great video on this.
What's happening now is that some places are banning natural gas altogether in new buildings, not just gas stoves. This makes huge sense because gas lines are dangerous and very unnecessary in newly built homes. This is really pissing off the natural gas companies.
The gas companies tried for a while to start a culture war by just straight up having the media mischaracterize the new laws as "banning everyone's cheap gas." This is still ongoing.
The new "ban gas stoves" laws strike me as a sort of "legislative overcharging". Similar to when they will charge a pig with intentional murder to avoid them being convicted for manslaughter, they're using these laws to sour people to the concept of regulating natural gas.
Why fight about the real systemic issue ("should new homes have gas lines installed?") when you can endlessly debate the safe liberal issue ("should I be allowed to use a gas stove in my house?")? :chomsky-yes-honey:
you are 100% correct. Climate Town did an episode on this and it's both comprehensive and damning. the "i love my gas stove" is absolutely a corporate manufactured affectation that has been doing a full court press in social media/influencer spaces for some years and it is meant to obscure their efforts to prevent community policy from updating building codes.
gas stoves represent very little of the residential gas usage, but they are the only appliance which uses gas that people can be persuaded to think has some personal value to them. nobody really gives a shit about a gas furnace vs a heat pump or a gas water heater vs electric, so long as they work, and these are the lion's share of gas sales in the home. but the attachment to "cooking with gas" prevents the electrification of the home and demolition of gas lines, smart grid/fully electric building codes, etc.
even in isolation of the broader issues and environmental concerns, there is absolutely zero benefit to gas stoves over electric. it has been studied exhaustively.
It’s Time To Break Up With Our Gas Stoves | Climate Town
check his citations and/or watch the video.
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