In an effort to cut household emissions, the Air Quality Management District shared an incentive program aimed at reducing pollution from gas-burning utilities at Tuesday’s Santa Clarita City Council meeting.
The rebate program offers up to $2,500 for single-family households that replace their gas or propane HVAC or water-heating systems with a qualified heat pump quickly due concern about a reliance on electricity in a city where power outages have been a problem.
Stephano Padillo presented the information to the City Council during public comment, and then Councilwoman Marsha McLean called him back to the lectern during council comments.
“I know you have these programs where you want people to give up their gas appliances,” McLean said. “Whenever electricity goes out, we have heat and we have water and we have a stove that we can use. If everybody has all electric appliances and electricity goes out, you’re stuck in your home with no heat and not the ability to even cook.”
McLean said she couldn’t be a fan of telling people they have to get rid of their gas appliances, “unless the AQMD is going to be supplying these people with backup batteries in order to keep their homes functioning.”
Padillo said the program was completely voluntary, and that the South Coast AQMD had no mandate to replace residents’ gas appliances.
He said he was sharing the information as the new representative for the area as the program was on a first-come, first-served basis, with $21 million to start the pilot program.
He also acknowledged McLean’s concern but didn’t have an answer.
“That is something that we are in conversation with our partners — such as (Southern California) Edison — expanding the grid and making sure there is energy supply. There is a full-scale transition in the mid- to near-future.”
McLean countered that maybe the AQMD could find the money for the necessary battery power.
“I’m being a little facetious, I understand,” she added, “but you know, people need to understand the reality.”
Michael Krause, assistant deputy executive officer for the South Coast AQMD, said that, as Santa Clarita is not in what’s considered a “disadvantaged community” under Senate Bill 535, residents are eligible for $1,500 to replace their gas furnace and $1,000 to replace their water heater. The eligible rebates are doubled in communities considered “over-burdened” by the AQMD, which are being targeted for 75% of the available funds.
One of the advantages of the new rebate program, he added, is “stacking,” which allows customers to apply for multiple rebates on top of the AQMD’s, which he said could come close to or cover the cost of the appliance.
The AQMD is sharing information next month over Zoom that will explain the rebate process and how residents can become eligible for any of the replacement appliances, as long as the replacement is purchased July 1 or later.
For information about the training and the rebates, visit bit.ly/GoZeroInfo.
