In a recent vote, air quality regulators in Southern California decided to reject new rules aimed at curbing harmful emissions from gas-powered furnaces and water heaters.
The board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District voted 7 to 5 against the proposed regulations but indicated a willingness to revisit the measures by sending them back to committee for revision.
The proposed rules were designed to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a group of pollutants known to contribute to smog and linked to significant health issues, including respiratory problems and premature death.
According to estimates from the air quality district, these regulations would have significantly lowered NOx emissions from gas-fired appliances, potentially preventing approximately 2,490 premature deaths and 10,200 new asthma cases over 26 years among the 16.8 million residents of Southern California, including all of Orange County and large areas of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
This region is known for its high levels of smog, making air quality a critical issue.
Ahead of the vote, the board received a deluge of feedback—over 30,000 written comments.
A notable response came from U.S. Attorney Bilal “Bill” Essayli, who threatened legal action against the board should they move to adopt the regulations.
“California regulators are on notice: if you pass illegal bans or penalties on gas appliances, we’ll see you in court,” Essayli declared on the social media platform X.
Opponents of the proposed rules voiced concerns regarding the financial burden they would impose on residents.
Board member Janet Nguyen, representing the Orange County Board of Supervisors, argued, “These rules don’t target refineries or shopping ports. They target people. The 17 million homeowners, renters, seniors and small businesses.”
In contrast, LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, who supported the rules, emphasized the urgency for action, stating, “If we don’t start now, when will we affect any change?”
The state of California has always led the way in setting ambitious environmental standards and is racing towards a 2045 goal of net-zero carbon emissions.
As part of this initiative, the rejected rules would have aimed to phase out the sale of gas-powered furnaces and water heaters starting in 2027, gradually increasing sales targets from 30% in the first year to 90% by 2039.
Manufacturers would face fees of $50 to $500 for selling gas appliances, incentivizing a shift toward cleaner alternatives.
Original proposals included mandates for zero-emissions standards for new residential buildings starting in 2029, but these requirements were amended following pushback from industry stakeholders, including Southern California Gas.
The regulatory measures would have impacted more than 10 million appliances across an estimated 5 million buildings in the region, most of them residential.
Supporters of the rules argued that the regulations would significantly improve public health and reduce air pollution.
However, opponents—including property owners, industry representatives, and natural gas suppliers—expressed fears that the rules would increase costs for both consumers and businesses, as well as potentially place undue strain on the power grid due to a shift to more electric appliances.
During a heated board meeting that lasted five hours, proponents of clean air flooded the room, holding signs with messages such as “Clean Air Now” and “Vote 4 Clean Air, Vote 4 Justice.”
Board chair Vanessa Delgado acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stating, “I don’t believe that there’s necessarily a good or right answer about these rules.
I believe that it is very complicated and I know that every single one of these board members are doing what is right to move forward air quality goals in our region.”
City Council member Juan Muñoz-Guevara from Lynwood highlighted the stakes of the decision, pointing to the serious health consequences faced by his community due to air pollution.
He remarked, “Gas appliances in our home are one of the largest sources of smog-forming pollution in the region. We cannot meet clean air goals without tackling this.”
On the other hand, local officials such as Peggy Huang from Yorba Linda voiced opposition, arguing that the rules would impose financial burdens on housing development efforts.
Chino’s mayor pro tem, Curtis Burton, echoed these sentiments, warning that the rules would create additional financial hardships for residents and businesses alike.
Despite the objections, supporters within the board maintained that implementing the regulations would ultimately lead to reduced energy bills for consumers in the long run.
The future of these proposed regulations remains uncertain as they await reconsideration in the committee, continuing the dialogue between advocates for public health and those concerned about economic implications.
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