Southern California Air Regulators Reject Gas Furnace Phase-Out Plan

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) in Southern California voted 7 to 5 to reject proposed rules aimed at reducing harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from gas-powered furnaces and water heaters, which contribute to smog and respiratory health issues. These rules would have gradually increased sales targets for zero-emission electric appliances, reaching 90% by 2036, with fees imposed on gas appliance manufacturers; the AQMD estimated the rules could have prevented thousands of premature deaths and asthma cases over 26 years. The decision followed intense public opposition, including over 30,000 written comments and a federal lawsuit threat from U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who argued that energy policy is a federal responsibility, not that of unelected local regulators. Concerns about affordability and increased costs for consumers, including potential electrical grid stress, were cited by board members opposing the rules. Despite the rejection, the board sent the rules back to committee for reconsideration, delaying any future vote likely until next year. The controversy highlights the tension between environmental health goals and political, economic, and legal challenges in regulating gas appliance emissions in a heavily populated and polluted region.