Cities and utilities across the United States are starting to reject natural gas — and not just for environmental reasons. Increasingly, the compelling economics of clean energy alternatives play a major role in these decisions. San Jose, the tenth largest city in the country, recently joined a string of cities banning gas utility connections for new homes and buildings. Cities in Massachusetts, Washington and Vermont could follow suit. Utilities in Florida and California recently made similar decisions to move away from gas in favor of renewable energy.