As the mayor of Palm Springs and a member of both the Coachella Valley Association of Governments’ Executive Committee and its Energy and Environmental Resources Committee, I’m deeply concerned by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)’s proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121, to reduce NOx (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) emissions from natural gas furnaces and residential water heaters.
These rules aim to transition toward zero-emission appliances, potentially phasing out natural-gas furnaces and water heaters. The new rules propose a pathway for manufacturers to meet compliance targets for zero-NOx emission units, allowing for both zero-emission and conventional natural gas-fired options in the market.
Email comments can be submitted by the end of day today to cob@aqmd.gov.
Under the new rule concept, consumers will be able to choose between zero-emission appliance options, or paying more than they are now for conventional natural gas-fired appliances. Sales of NOx-emitting units above specified compliance targets for zero-NOx emission units and NOx-emitting units will be subject to a higher mitigation fee. It’s estimated that 20% to 30% of the residential-type space and water heating units currently supplied by manufacturers are already zero-NOx emission units in the South Coast AQMD region. The new rule concept is intended to provide a pathway for more zero-NOx emission options in the market over time.
While the SCAQMD attempts to frame this as a victory for “consumer choice,” the reality for many Coachella Valley families is far more complex and, frankly, disingenuous.
The notion that our residents have a genuine “choice” when faced with potentially higher costs for essential home appliances, while electric bills continue their upward climb, is a deeply flawed premise. It completely disregards the significant economic disparities that exist within our region. For families already struggling to make ends meet, being “offered” the option to pay more for an appliance isn’t a choice that enhances their quality of life; it’s a financial burden disguised as environmental progress.
SCAQMD’s claim of “significant air quality benefits” and “one of the most substantial reductions in the agency’s history” also warrants critical scrutiny, particularly concerning its direct relevance to air quality here in Riverside County. Where is the localized research for the Coachella Valley that quantifies the impact of gas stoves and water heaters on our regional air quality? Without specific documentation demonstrating that poor air quality levels in our county are significantly a result of these appliances, the argument that Coachella Valley residents must bear increased costs for a problem not demonstrably sourced to their immediate environment is unconvincing. This argument feels disconnected from our local reality.
Furthermore, the “Go Zero NOx pilot incentive program,” with its $21 million allocation, is presented as a supportive measure—but its scope and accessibility are crucial. This funding simply won’t be enough to genuinely offset the increased costs for all economically impacted families. In fact, it’s concerning that the ongoing program will effectively be funded by the most marginalized, and the program will primarily benefit those who are already more financially stable. Without a clear commitment to fully subsidizing the transition for low-income households—particularly in areas like the Coachella Valley, where economic vulnerability is high—this incentive program risks becoming little more than a token gesture. A significant flaw in this plan is its failure to address the increased electrical costs families will face, as well as the increased demand for electricity on an already overburdened grid.
Ultimately, presenting these new rules as a matter of “choice” completely overlooks the fundamental reality that for many Coachella Valley families, their budget dictates their options, not their preferences. Being forced to pay more for essential home functions without clear, localized evidence of a direct benefit to their immediate air quality, and with potentially inadequate financial assistance, is not an improvement in their quality of life. It is an imposition that could exacerbate existing economic hardships.
“Go Zero” is not a plan for a cleaner environment for all; it’s a plan for long-term financial hardship for many of our most vulnerable residents.
Ron deHarte is the mayor of Palm Springs, and a member of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Executive Committee and Energy and Environmental Resources Committee.
I find this to be an ingenuous concern. The fact of the matter is it cost more for a city permit to have a gas natural hot water heater installed then it does the unit itself. If you were truly concerned about consumers of the Coachella Valley, you would Take a look at how you could cut their costs, and not blame it on efforts to keep our air breathable.