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Los Angeles Air District Set to Vote on Phasing Out Gas-Powered Home Heaters

The sales targets aim to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution to unlock billions in projected health savings

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Overview

  • Regulators will vote on June 6 to adopt revised rules phasing out new natural gas water heaters and furnaces across the four-county Los Angeles basin beginning in 2027.
  • The draft mandates manufacturers to sell at least 30% zero-emission heating appliances in 2027—rising to 90% by 2036—with fees on gas units funding incentives for low-income residents.
  • The South Coast Air Quality Management District projects the plan will cut six tons of daily nitrogen oxide emissions and save $59 billion in health expenses by 2053.
  • Backers highlight expected drops in asthma diagnoses, emergency visits and school absences, while business and gas-industry groups warn that added fees could drive up consumer costs.
  • Bay Area rules passed in 2023 require zero-emission water heaters by 2027 and furnaces by 2029, offering a precedent for the South Coast plan.