California Passes Senator Wiener’s First-in-the-Nation Bill to Accelerate Heat Pump Approvals, Lower Energy…

SB 222 streamlines the heat pump permitting process to make installations faster and more affordable for homeowners and contractors while cutting building emissions, and expanding access to cooling amid dangerous heat waves.

SACRAMENTO – Today, the California Legislature passed SB 222, a bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to speed the installation of heat pumps in homes to expand access to cooling, reduce building emissions, and help the state meet its climate goals. SB 222 is a first-in-the-nation standardizes permitting across California and makes heat pump water heater and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) installations faster and more affordable for homeowners and contractors. The Senate voted 26-5 and the Assembly voted 60-8 to pass the bill. The Governor has until September 30 to act on the bill.

“Speeding up low-cost installations for heat pumps is how we protect California families from extreme heat and rising energy costs,” said Senator Scott Wiener. “Californians need to be able to afford their monthly utility bills, and they need cooling to guard against the risks of extreme heat. Heat pumps are a no-brainer solution, which is why we’ve seen huge support for the bill in the Legislature and across a diverse coalition of labor, industry leaders, and environmentalists. ”

A heat pump is a modern, dual-use appliance that is able to both cool and heat a home comfortably, and can replace both an air conditioner and gas furnace. Heat pumps can also help homeowners stabilize energy bills as heat pumps are up to 3x more energy efficient than a gas furnace. Data from TECH Clean California shows that households can save an average of $304 a year by switching to a heat pump for space heating and cooling, and $97 annually when upgrading from a gas water heater to a more efficient heat pump water heater. Pairing heat pumps with solar and/or battery systems as well as demand response capabilities can provide even bigger savings for Californians. 

As energy costs continue to rise due to increasingly frequent heat waves caused by climate change, these savings become even more important for California households. Next year, a Super El Nino is widely expected to yield the highest temperatures on record, and Californians need tools to lower their energy costs and protect themselves from the health risks of extreme heat.

About a quarter of Californians do not have air conditioning, with higher proportions of low-income households and communities of color who face higher heat exposure and more limited access to cooling. 

"We thank Senator Wiener and the Legislature for prioritizing Californians who urgently need clean and affordable cooling as households face high costs of living,” said Madison Vander Klay, Government Affairs Manager at the Building Decarbonization Coalition. “Demand for highly efficient heat pumps is here, and The Heat Pump Access Act clears that path and cuts unnecessary red tape. Californians and the contractors who serve them deserve a simpler, faster, more predictable and affordable process for installing heat pumps."

"Heat pumps are one of our best tools for cutting pollution, lowering energy bills, and keeping people safe from extreme heat," said Colleen Corrigan, Sustainability and Resilience Policy Manager at SPUR. "But right now, inconsistent local permitting and avoidable soft costs are adding hundreds of dollars to every installation, pricing out the households who need this technology most. SB 222 fixes the parts of the permitting process that don't need to be broken–instant permits for standard installs, one permit instead of two, and fees homeowners can actually predict."

The Heat Pump Access Act supports California’s workforce by making it easier for contractors and technicians to install heat pumps. This allows contractors to more efficiently provide quality installations and grow their business and spend less time on complex and complicated restrictions and paperwork. The bill also supports California’s progress to meet Governor Gavin Newsom's goal of installing 6 million heat pumps by 2030 and creating 7 million climate-ready homes by 2035 in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. 

"Every gas furnace and water heater we replace with a heat pump means cleaner air in our neighborhoods and less pollution across the Bay Area," said Alan Abbs, Legislative Officer for the Bay Area Air District. "The Heat Pump Access Act removes the permitting barriers that keep too many families from making this switch and supports the transition to zero-emission buildings. We are proud to co-sponsor legislation that protects public health, lowers energy costs and helps the region meet its clean air and climate goals."

The current permitting landscape—which has over 600 jurisdictions with the authority to set different rules—has created unnecessary complexity, delays, and costs that impede heat pump installation. The Heat Pump Access Act will deliver:

• A simplified statewide process that prohibits jurisdictions or HOAs from imposing additional requirements beyond state code
• Standardized permitting fees with reasonable caps to improve affordability
• An expedited approval process that mandates instant or accelerated permit issuance
• A maximum of one permit required for heat pump installations

SB 282 will help expand access to heat pumps, which can provide cooling during dangerous heat events. Outfitting homes with pollution-free heat pumps will also help reduce the climate pollution produced by gas furnaces and water heaters, which will improve air quality for Californians, help mitigate climate change, and support the state in its climate and heat pump goals.

The Heat Pump Access Act is co-sponsored by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, SPUR, and the Bay Area Air District. 

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