Ducey OKs bill barring city natural gas hookup bans

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation that prohibits cities and counties from banning new natural gas hookups.

Ducey signed the bill backed by Senate President Karen Fann and House Speaker Rusty Bowers on Friday. It was designed to prevent the spread of gas bans being adopted by some California cities to help combat climate change to Arizona. Ducey, Fann and Bowers are all Republicans.

The measure cleared the Senate and House with bi-partisan votes, but many minority Democrats opposed it.

The bill’s supporters say homeowners and businesses should be able to decide for themselves what kind of energy they want to use for cooking or heating. Fann said recently that while she supports local control, allowing municipalities to ban natural gas would raise prices for other users.

Democrats say the state shouldn’t tie the hands of cities and counties to do what they think is best. No gas bans have been proposed in Arizona.