The California Legislature is set to vote on SB 1221 (Min), a new bill that empowers the state to invest in clean energy infrastructure and provide affordable energy in the long term for Californians. If passed, the bill will also reduce building emissions and contribute to California’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 in a more equitable manner.
SB 1221 seeks to advance building decarbonization pilots at a neighborhood scale, prioritizing disadvantaged communities, and allowing entire city blocks to transition from gas to clean electricity. By avoiding unnecessary gas infrastructure investments and promoting energy efficiency through appliances like heat pumps, these projects will reduce overall energy system costs, leading to savings for both participants and non-participants in the long term.
This shift is also expected to bring about climate and air quality benefits. Despite California’s reputation as a climate and environmental leader, there is currently no concrete plan in place to address building sector emissions, which account for 25% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, California is the second-largest consumer of fossil gas in the country. Gas poses significant risks to human health and the environment, worsening air quality and exacerbating heat waves. Gas-burning appliances in households emit a significant amount of toxic nitrogen oxide pollution.
SB 1221 will also help Californians cope with extreme heat by providing highly efficient, zero-emission heat pumps for cooling at no cost to residents. This is crucial given the expected increase in heat events, which could lead to a significant number of premature deaths if emission reductions are not achieved.
Transitioning buildings to run on clean electricity also has the potential to create a substantial number of jobs. A recent report suggests that converting the state’s buildings to clean electricity could support over 100,000 full-time construction jobs and necessitate the manufacturing of new equipment, potentially creating thousands of additional jobs annually.
The majority of California voters support a policy to pilot a program enabling residents and businesses to upgrade their neighborhoods to run on 100 percent clean electricity. They are also concerned about the high costs associated with maintaining and replacing aging gas pipelines in the state.
Jose Torres, California Director at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, emphasizes that SB 1221 can protect Californians against extreme heat and help low-income communities build climate resilience. It will also make energy more affordable for Californians by investing in clean energy infrastructure.
California has been a leader in the fight against climate change but has fallen behind in reducing pollution from buildings. If passed, SB 1221 can help California reclaim its climate leadership and maximize the benefits of clean energy upgrades, particularly for communities in need.
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