In September 2022, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan (SIP), which included a regulatory concept for controlling greenhouse gas emissions from newly sold space and water heaters after 2030, while also considering other end uses. These standards will seek to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions to meet California’s climate goals and federal air quality standards.

CARB is holding this solicitation to provide an opportunity for qualified members of the public to be more involved in CARB staff analysis, public engagement, and implementation planning work for potential zero-emission appliance standards. There are three ways to be involved as a Public Expert (called “Tracks”): (1) staff analysis and engagement support, (2) listening session co-hosting, and (3)implementation planning support. At this information session, staff will share information about these Public Expert Tracks, funding eligibility and amounts, and the application process. They will also answer questions from the public and prospective applicants.

Interested applicants to serve as Public Experts must submit their applications by January 8, 2024. For more information about this solicitation and how to apply, please visit the Zero-Emission Appliance Standards Public Engagement website. 

Staff’s information session presentation and an agenda will be posted prior to the information session on CARB’s Zero-Emission Appliance Standards website, where more information on the potential regulation can also be found. The virtual meeting will be in English with Spanish interpretation. The meeting will also be recorded and posted on the Zero-Emission Appliance Standards website. 

Date:   December 19, 2023
Time:   5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Virtual, via Zoom - Register Here.

Please register as an attendee prior to the start of the information session using the link above. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar by computer or by telephone. 

Background

Zero-emission appliance standards are part of California’s climate and air quality strategy as laid out in the 2022 Scoping Plan adopted in December 2022 and the 2022 State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan adopted in September 2022. Commercial and residential buildings are responsible for approximately 10 percent of GHG emissions and 5 percent of statewide NOx emissions in California from fossil gas combustion. Zero-emission space and water heaters sold in California after 2030 would reduce building-related GHG and NOx emissions to help the State meet its climate goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier and assist California with meeting State and federal air quality standards and improving public health. CARB staff plan to take a proposed regulation to the Board for consideration in 2025 with any implementation beginning in 2030. 

More Information

If you have any questions regarding the information session, please contact buildingdecarb@arb.ca.gov. To stay informed regarding zero-emission space and water heaters standards, please sign up for updates via CARB’s “Building Decarbonization” GovDelivery topic.

Special Accommodation Requests

Consistent with California Government Code Section 7296.2, special accommodation or language needs may be provided for any of the following: 

• An interpreter to be available at the meeting; 
• Documents made available in an alternate format or another language; 
• A disability-related reasonable accommodation. 

To request these special accommodations or language needs, please contact buildingdecarb@arb.ca.gov or (279) 208-7378 as soon as possible, but no later than five business days before the scheduled meeting. TTY/TDD/Speech to Speech users may dial 711 for the California Relay Service.