The California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) staff invite you to participate in a virtual public workshop to provide input on the development of zero greenhouse gas emission standards for space and water heaters. These standards seek to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from new space and water heaters sold in the state to help meet California’s climate goals and federal air quality standards. At this workshop, staff will solicit input on an updated draft regulatory proposal. Staff will request feedback on zero-emission technology types, costs, and adoption rates to include in the modeling work to estimate emission reduction and cost impacts for the regulatory proposal. Staff will also solicit input on suggestions for alternative regulatory concepts for inclusion in the Standardized Regulatory Impact Assessment that will be prepared for this regulatory action. In addition, this workshop will also serve as a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) scoping meeting to solicit input on the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) to be prepared for the proposed project.

This workshop is one in a series of workshops and focused meetings with interested parties that CARB will be hosting to inform the rulemaking process for zero-emission space and water heater standards.

Staff’s presentation and an agenda will be posted prior to the workshop on CARB’s Zero-Emission Space and Water Heaters Standards website (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/zero-emission-space-and-water-heater-standards), where more information on the potential regulation can also be found.

This virtual public workshop will be held on the following date and time:

Date:                May 29, 2024
Time:                9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location:          Virtual via Zoom - Register (https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dwQDbANHTeaHdsaCRbXFrg#/registration)

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

The virtual meeting will be in English with Spanish interpretation. The meeting will be recorded and posted on the Zero-Emission Space and Water Heaters Standards website. (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/zero-emission-space-and-water-heater-standards)

Staff request public comments following the workshop be submitted using the comment submittal form by June 26, 2024. Comments submitted can be viewed on the workshop comments log webpage (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/public-comments/zero-emission-space-and-water-heater-standards-may-29-2024-workshop-public-comments).

Background 

Zero-emission space and water heater standards are part of California’s climate and air quality strategies as laid out in the 2022 Scoping Plan (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/2022-scoping-plan-documents?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) adopted in December 2022 and the 2022 State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/2022-state-strategy-state-implementation-plan-2022-state-sip-strategy?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) adopted in September 2022. Nonresidential and residential buildings are responsible for approximately 10 percent of GHG emissions and 5 percent of statewide NO_x (https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/nitrogen-dioxide-and-health?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) emissions in California. Zero-emission space and water heaters sold in California after 2030 would reduce building-related GHG and NO_x 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 anticipate taking a proposed regulation to the Board for consideration in 2025.

Environmental Analysis

At the workshop staff will provide an overview of CARB’s process for preparing the Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) and its content required under the California Environmental Quality Act. Staff welcome public input at the workshop on the appropriate scope and content of the EIA at the beginning of our process, including the reasonably foreseeable methods of compliance with the proposal, the potential significant adverse impacts associated with the methods of compliance, potential feasible mitigation measures, and feasible alternatives to the proposal that could reduce or eliminate any significant adverse impacts. A draft of the EIA will be released for public review and comment in 2025.

For More Information

If you have any questions regarding the workshop, please contact buildingdecarb@arb.ca.gov (mailto:buildingdecarb@arb.ca.gov). To stay informed regarding zero-emission space and water heaters standards, please sign up (https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/CARB/subscriber/new?topic_id=bldg) for updates via CARB’s “Building Decarbonization” GovDelivery topic.

Special Accommodation Request

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 (mailto: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.