San Jose is expected to become the largest city in the US to ban gas infrastructure from nearly all new construction, continuing a drumbeat of municipalities across the country seeking to slash greenhouse gas pollution, the Mercury News reports. While gas was once perceived as a better option compared to coal and oil, new science shows it’s responsible for a spike in levels of atmospheric methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that causes climate change, which could erase any gain from switching from coal.  That, along with the falling costs of renewable electricity sources, has made electricity for heating a better low-carbon option. Gas combustion in homes also causes substantial health impacts, especially for children. San Jose officials expect the gas ban will reduce the city’s carbon pollution by more than 600,000 tons over the next five years. “It’s important for us to maintain our climate leadership,” Mayor Sam Liccardo told the Mercury News. “As the largest city in Silicon Valley, the country looks to us to be pushing forward on initiatives that will have an impact in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” (Mercury News)