Reduce Deadly Air Pollution in the Bay Area!

The gas industry is trying to take us backwards on clean air. Gas furnaces and water heaters are one of the largest sources of smog-forming pollution in our region, contributing more nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution than all the cars on our roads combined and contaminating the air you and your family breathe every day.

The Bay Area made a major clean air decision in 2023. We demanded the Air District adopt strong zero NOx standards to phase out new gas furnaces and water heaters that pollute our neighborhoods, worsening asthma and heart disease. Now those rules are moving toward implementation, including updates to make sure low-income households are protected. But the gas industry is trying to take advantage of this opportunity to undercut the rules to keep their corporate profits high.

Add your voice now and tell the Air District not to let polluters use this implementation process to roll back clean air protections.

This comment period is about one simple question. Will the Bay Area keep these life-saving clean air standards strong, or will polluters succeed in weakening them?

Your personal comment matters because decision makers look closely at messages written in real people’s own words. Industry groups submit form letters. Community members tell their stories.

You do not need to be an expert. Just a few sentences is enough. You could write:

Clean air matters to my family. Please keep the zero NOx standards strong and on schedule.
Low-income households deserve support and clean air. Do not weaken these protections.
The gas industry should not get another chance to delay life-saving rules.

When we organized, we won these standards. Add your voice today to defend them.

829

signatures of 2000 goal

Continue

Title

First Name

Last Name

Street Address

City

State

Zip

Phone

Your Message

Subject

I support Rules 9-4 and 9-6 and decreasing air pollution from appliances

Add a Personal Message

Personal messages make a big impact on decision makers. Please add a note about why this issue matters to you!

1000 characters remaining

Message

I am writing to voice my ongoing support for Bay Area Air District (the “Air District”) zero-emission appliance standard Rules 9-4 and 9-6. These rules are critical to protect our air by ensuring most polluting furnaces and water heaters are replaced with pollution-free alternatives for residential furnaces and water heaters. While the rules will benefit from common-sense amendments to ensure flexibility for residents who need additional support to comply, it is critical that the benefits of the regulations are not lost by expanding exemptions too broadly or overly weakening the regulations in this process. The Bay Area faces an ongoing air quality crisis. The region is not currently in attainment of all state and national ambient air quality standards for harmful pollutants including particulate matter and ozone. Gas-burning appliances, including furnaces and water heaters, are one of the most significant contributors to air pollution in the region, and emit more Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) than all the Bay Area’s passenger cars combined, and remain one of the top stationary sources of pollution in the region. The pollution from fossil fuel furnaces and water heaters alone causes up to 85 premature deaths[1] and 15,000 asthma attacks per year[2], and costs the region $890 million annually in health related costs from air pollution exposure[1]. Switching from gas powered appliances to zero-emission appliances like electric heat pumps reduces harmful pollution, enhances climate resilience, and improves household resilience by offering reliable heating and cooling, and improved air filtration. The Air District rules 9-4 and 9-6 establish zero-NOx standards for residential storage water heaters and residential furnaces, and are set to initiate a transition to zero-polluting heating appliances in the region as customer’s old equipment reaches end of life. When Rules 9-4 and 9-6 were voted on by BAAD in 2023, they passed by an overwhelming majority of the Board. Since then, the Air District’s Implementation Working Group worked with the Air District to achieve a successful and equitable implementation of the Air District’s zero-emission water heating rules by 2027. While these rules are still just as important as they were when passed two years ago, as we near the implementation of these rules, it has become apparent that a few discrete changes are needed to build in flexibility and better support low income households to make the transition off of gas appliances. I strongly support amendments in the spirit of minimizing impact and increasing equity, yet I urge the Air District Board to avoid any changes that will unnecessarily weaken the rule’s life-saving emissions reductions. Thank you for your consideration. Footnotes: [1] https://www.baaqmd.gov/news-and-events/page-resources/2023-news/031523-ba-rules [2] https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/dotgov/files/rules/reg-9-rule-4-nitrogen-oxides-from-fan-type-residential-central-furnaces/2021-amendments/documents/20230307_fsr_rules0904and0906-pdf.pdf?la=en

By taking this action to protect the planet, you are affirming you want to receive regular Sierra Club communications and may vote on policy designated by the Sierra Club Board.

Additionally, by giving your mobile number, you consent to receive phone and text communications from Sierra Club organizations. Text communications will include receiving automated, recurring action alerts from Sierra Club. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for more information. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy