HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2025-013RESOLUTION NO. 2025-013
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
DESERT, CALIFORNIA, EXPRESSING CONCERN REGARDING THE
SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT’S PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO RULES 1111 AND 1121, PHASING OUT GAS WATER
HEATERS AND FURNACES
WHEREAS, The South Coast Air Quality District (SCAQMD) is a regional air
pollution control agency representing Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside , and San
Bernardino counties with responsibility for regulating stationary sources of air pollution;
and
WHEREAS, The SCAQMD is considering two rules that would have a significant
impact on up to 17 million South Coast homeowners, renters and businesses: Rule 1111
would regulate air emissions from gas-powered central furnaces; and Rule 1121 would
regulate air emissions from residential-type, natural gas-powered water heaters; and
WHEREAS, Rules 1111 and 1121 would impose additional costs to consumers
and while incentives exist, homeowners and renters may still face significant out-of-
pocket expenses when transitioning to electric appliances; and
WHEREAS, Housing affordability throughout California is and will remain a top
public policy priority for the City of Palm Desert for the foreseeable future. Local
governments are being pressured to build more housing – specifically, housing that
people can afford. Any regulations that increase these costs deserve careful scrutiny to
ensure that the increased costs are met with an equal or greater amount of benefit to the
consumer; and
WHEREAS, The SCAQMD’s water heater and furnace mandates will impose a
significant increase in electricity demand on California’s electric grid. Transitioning to all-
electric water heaters and furnaces means an increased demand on an electric grid that
has not proven capable of consistently meeting existing demand. Water heaters and
furnaces are essential elements in any house, apartment, or business. Millions of new
electric water heaters and furnaces would draw power from the grid and raise the risk of
power brownouts or outages; and
WHEREAS, The incentive and rebate programs require easier access and use for
homeowners and renters, greater coordination with cities is needed to have
homeowners/renters access these incentives and rebates, and the proposed
amendments need to be softened and relaxed to lessen the impact to homeowners and
renters.
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Resolution No. 2025-013 Page 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm
Desert, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. Rules 1111 and 1121 will have a negative impact as proposed and
impose significant costs on millions of Southern California homeowners, renters, and
businesses who are already struggling with rising costs.
SECTION 2. The City of Palm Desert opposes Proposed Amended Rules 1111
and 1121 and urges the SCAQMD to delay consideration until the proposed amendments
lessen the impact on properties and allow for streamlined eligibility of incentives and
rebates before deciding to enact these amendments.
ADOPTED ON FEBRUARY 27, 2025.
JAN HARNIK
MAYOR
ATTEST:
ANTHONY J. MEJIA
CITY CLERK
I, Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 2025-013 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a
regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Desert on February 27, 2025, by
the following vote:
AYES: NESTANDE, PRADETTO, QUINTANILLA, TRUBEE, AND HARNIK
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
RECUSED: NONE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of Palm Desert, California, on ___________________.
ANTHONY J. MEJIA
CITY CLERK
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3/3/2025