Before coming to LAist in late 2021, I covered topics such as mental health, domestic violence and environmental issues for newspapers in Texas, Arizona and Northern California. I turned my focus to climate coverage after reporting on the devastating impacts of rising sea levels on communities in the remote Sundarbans islands in India.
Members of the public can offer comment on proposed appliance rules at the South Coast Air Quality Management District headquarters in Diamond Bar on Friday.Only 7% of LAist readers currently donate to fund our journalism.
Help raise that number, so our nonprofit newsroom stays strong in the face of federal cuts. If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.Southern California air regulators will vote Friday on two proposed regulations to curb smog and lessen pollution that’s heating up the planet., which regulates air quality across much of L.A., Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, has been working to update rules to phase out gas furnaces and water heaters, as well as incentivize replacing them with less polluting electric appliances, such as These appliances may be small, but add them up across millions of homes and businesses and they’re actually one of the largest contributors to Southern California’s notorious smog, according to air district officials. Aby climate think tank Rocky Mountain Institute found that gas-burning equipment in homes and businesses in Greater L.A. produce seven times more smog-forming pollution than the region’s power plants.And buildings, mostly because they’re hooked up to methane gas pipes and appliances, account for about a quarter of the state’s planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions,Environmental advocates say the rules have been watered down significantly and should be stricter, while the gas industry and its partners say the rules will strain the power grid and raise costs for consumers. Since the rulemaking process began in 2023, industry stakeholders have scored wins: The rules have gone from an outright mandate to install zero-emission furnaces and water heaters in new homes and buildings, to a significantly extended and more flexible timeline to phase out these appliances. As initially proposed in October 2024, the rules would have required that all furnaces and water heaters installed in new residential and commercial buildings be zero-emission by 2026, while existing homes and mobile homes had a little more time to make the switch.would require manufacturers to gradually start selling more zero-emissions furnaces and water heaters: a 30% sales target by 2027, 50% in 2029 and eventually 90% in 2036. The rules no longer mandate that these appliances be zero-emission by a specific date. Instead, if passed, traditional gas-powered appliances would still be sold, but manufacturers would have to pay surcharges for those units, a cost they’re likely to pass on to consumers.Air district officials say the rules are still the second-largest cut to pollutants of any rule in recent decades.. Home appliances have been regulated for efficiency and pollution since the 1970s. The rules regulating pollution from furnaces and water heaters here in Southern California were first put in place in 1978. In recent months, affected manufacturers and utilities such as SoCal Gas, have pushed back hard on the amended rules, in some cases continuing to call them a ban on gas furnaces and water heaters.In late 2024, a campaign by industry stakeholders to oppose the amended rules began in earnest, according to records obtained by theand shared with LAist. Industry groups emailed politicians and government councils with pre-written opposition letters and talking points to reject the rules. “This is one of the largest efforts by SoCal Gas and other gas-affiliated organizations to delay a rule,” said Charlie Spatz, a researcher with the watchdog think tank. “It's a lot of the same tactics, which is trying to delay the process and submit as many opposition comments as possible to intimidate the regulators,” Spatz said., a coalition of local business and trade groups, sent a flurry of “urgent” requests to local public officials before an AQMD meeting in December, according to the records Spatz shared with LAist:A SoCal Gas employee emailed a member of the Ontario City Council asking her to testify at the meeting, sending along SoCal Gas talking points. The rules are “essentially prohibiting the sale and installation of natural gas appliances,” the SoCal Gas employee wrote. The councilmember did end up testifying. a SoCal Gas employee emailed a city of Norco official, asking her to testify or submit a letter opposing the rules. He included a sample letter in the email and city officials replied with the opposition letter he’d sent. that AQMD received from public officials were drafted by a consultant working for BizFed. Nearly verbatim letters were sent to district officials by theended up passing those resolutions, which incorrectly called the updated proposed rules a “ban” on natural gas furnaces and water heaters. South Coast AQMD received more than 14,500 comments about the rules. Citing the misinformation regarding a “ban” in many of the letters, staff put together a ““Many that opposed the proposed amended rules because they believe the proposed rules will require them to replace their existing NOx-emitting gas units with electric units, including their stoves,” stafffor the district board. “This is in large part due to misinformation provided by outside groups, implying the proposed rules are still a mandate and consumers will not be able to purchase NOx-emitting gas units.”SoCal Gas says the effort is a normal part of the rule proposal process and that the rules could usurp federal law, which is what industry trade groups have argued in an ongoing lawsuit filed by trade groups against the AQMD about a similar law focused on other gas appliances, such as stoves. “SoCal Gas’ stakeholder engagement and outreach efforts on this topic are a regular part of any rulemaking process where we share information that could affect Southern California customers,” a spokesperson for the utility wrote in an emailed statement to LAist.At a time when trusted news and information are more important than ever, your donation ensures that LAist can continue to serve everyone in our community. Make a powerful statement that you value quality reporting from LAist and safeguard the future of public media today with your gift.Sweet orange scab is a fungal pathogen that's already been found in Orange County. Here's what you need to know if you have citrus trees.Education A UC Irvine lecturer was banned from campus after his arrest at an event. Why it matters for other facultyA suspect wounded by police is in custody, according to authorities. Police found another person dead from apparent gunshot wounds at the scene.Patricia Krenwinkel has been recommended for parole for a second time since 1971 murder conviction. Under the sway of Charles Manson, his followers committed a series of gruesome murders in 1969. The cult leader's Helter Skelter plan terrorized the city and still fascinates more than 50 years later.The city will make presentations at several upcoming gatherings after LAist revealed $700,000 in contracts had been signed outside public view.The businesses facing scrutiny in probes surrounding a disgraced OC supervisorOC health officials allege state regulator threatened board member to help powerful private interests
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