Regulators seek to phase out gasoline-powered appliances in Southern California

Southern California’s air quality regulator will vote this week on new rules aimed at phase-out sales of gas furnaces and water heaters in the region.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District, or AQMD, covers all blockbusters in Orange and Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, plans to vote on Friday on two proposed regulations designed to limit emissions of nitrogen oxides, or NOX emissions, that is, the key pollutants that form Smog.

If approved, AQMD proposed amendments 1111 and 1121 will set zero-emission sales targets for manufacturers, distributors and installers of equipment. Starting in 2027, the target's sales target has increased by 30% over time from year one, reaching 50% in mid-2029 and reaching a 50% range in 2029, while the rule holds the estimates in the 2036 estimate. In residential properties.

Gas-powered appliances will still be sold, but manufacturers will be forced to pay surcharges for these units – which may pass them on to consumers.

Officials say the plan is crucial to reduce air pollution and improve public health in the South Coast region, which continues to suffer from the worst smoke in the country, well below many air quality standards based on federal health.

“The rule is an important part of clearing the air and being able to meet these health standards-based strategies,” said Sarah Rees, deputy executive of AQMD's program and rules. “We wanted to focus on the maximum NOX emissions, and heating of space and water is actually a pretty important part, and the table stays on we can solve it.”

Environmental groups say these rules (developed in the past two years) have long been expected and should be more aggressive. But opponents, including gas station manufacturers, fossil fuel companies and some local governments and business groups, said the measure would open the grid and increase costs for consumers.

Prices for zero-emission units vary, which may depend on factors such as the size of the house, local labor and installation costs, and whether electric panel upgrades are also required.

According to the AQMD report on the socio-economic impact of the rules, the estimated equipment and installation cost of electric heat pumps is $17,200, while the gas furnace is $11,000. However, because the heat pump can provide both heating and cooling, the agent notes that the cost of the electric motor is comparable to the cost of replacing a complete air conditioner and gas furnace system, which is about $20,600.

According to AQMD, the equipment and installation of heat pump water heaters averages $3,700, while the gas unit costs $3,300.

State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) said affordability is one of his main concerns about the rules. He urged his voters to weigh them.

“Families who pay their salaries cannot afford this kind of task,” Strickland said, adding that living in California is 42% higher than the national average. “I want to control some of these boards, e.g. [the California Air Resources Board, or CARB,] and AQMD, because they are making decisions that are harmful to the people of California. ”

Officials stressed that the proposal was not a mandate. Although the original iteration of the rules ultimately prohibits the sale of new gasoline-powered equipment, the final revised rules require that cleaning technology be slower but still allow consumers to purchase gas units if they wish.

However, additional fees will be charged to the manufacturer for the sale of gasoline-powered units. The fees include an additional gasoline stove of $100 and a gasoline heater priced at $50, respectively, to $50 and $250 if the manufacturer sells gasoline units that exceed their sales targets.

The fees charged from the penalty will be used to fund incentive programs to help consumers purchase zero-emission equipment, such as electric heat pumps.

“It’s a weaker policy, but it’s still a very important policy,” said Adrian Martinez, director of Zero Campaign Rights at the nonprofit EarthJustice. “Because even if the signal is not so strong into the zero-transmitter device, it is still a signal.”

Martinez said it is estimated that 6 tons of NOX will be reduced per day by 2061.

NOX is not only responsible for smoke. As a major source of indoor air pollution, these emissions are also associated with respiratory infections, increased childhood asthma, and other adverse health problems, especially home exposure, especially those without proper ventilation.

“What we're really talking about here is public health,” said Chris Chavez, deputy policy director for the nonprofit Clean Air Alliance. “The fact is that if you are going to continue to choose to use contamination technology, there will be a public health impact – we'll pay for it through asthma attacks, we'll pay for it through premature death, we'll pay for it in hospitalization or through our taxes.”

According to the AQMD impact report, these rules will prevent approximately 2,490 early deaths, 10,200 new attacks of asthma and 1.17 million days of limited or reduced physical and outdoor activities from 2027 to 2053.

In response to the proposal, more than 14,000 public comments have been submitted to AQMD, many of whom objected.

“If these rules are adopted, it is crucial to recognize that consumer choices will be affected, not industry homeowners and renters, not industry, not industry, and that will be the ones forced to follow these rules in depth,” Kevin Barker, senior manager of Southern California Gas Co., wrote in a comment letter to the board.

Opponents also expressed concern that appliances will add more pressure to the aging energy grid in the region, or as one public commenter said: “We will face further grid Blunt due to the increase in electricity use and make life worse in this state.”

AQMD's Rees said the slow acceleration of the rules should ensure that the grid has enough time to meet the needs. The state is working to implement electrification plans, and Kabu officials are also moving towards statewide gas furnaces and water heaters by 2030.

Although she has heard about the concerns about costs, she says zero-emission technology is more efficient and therefore more cost-effective to run – and will continue to decline over time. Incentive programs are designed to help customers who work hard to meet upfront costs.

Additionally, she said the plan encourages people to buy zero-emission equipment only if the current unit is interrupted or needs replacement, and consumers will still have the option to end up.

“It’s really about promoting zero-emission technologies, frankly, following existing market trends,” Rees said. “We think we’ve tried very hard to create a statute that will advance the adoption of these clean technologies, but still retain the choice of consumers, but for consumers, consumers can’t adopt these types of equipment, but still allow us to reduce emissions at the end of the day.”

Still, some advocates said they hope the rules are more aggressive, including several speeches made by AQMD at a board meeting on the matter in May.

“This rule, while not as powerful as we hoped, is a step forward,” said Jennifer Cardenas, campaign organizer for the Sierra Club. “You can't be determined to be able to breathe clean air.”

Others point to an example of the San Francisco Bay Area. The region’s air quality management district has passed a more stringent version of the rules two years ago, including a complete ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered water heaters and 2029 furnaces in 2027.

However, EarthJustice's Martinez pointed out that NOX is the largest emission category under the South Coast AQMD authority and said the agency will be reluctant to take action.

“I think the best assessment is, are we going to be better with or without the rules?” he said. “Highlighting, all the evidence shows that we are in the favor of the rules.”

The public can attend Friday’s online hearing or in person at the South Coast AQMD in Diamond Bar.