Southern California Air Regulators Reject Healthy Air Standards, Caving to Industry Misinformation Campaign

In a major failure for efforts to clean up dangerous air pollution in the nation’s smoggiest region, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) rejected standards today that would have reduced air pollution from home furnaces and water heaters across Southern California. SCAQMD’s own analysis estimated these rules would have prevented 2,490 premature deaths and delivered $25.43 billion in health benefits over the coming decades.

“Industry’s aggressive misinformation campaign was unprecedented in all of the years we have participated in Air District rulemakings,” said Earthjustice Senior Attorney Fernando Gaytan. “By derailing these vital rules, I fear that industry has broken SCAQMD’s rulemaking process, setting a dangerous precedent that industry can kill any rule it doesn’t like through fear and misinformation to drum up manufactured opposition. We need far more transparency on industry’s deceptive tactics, as the stakes for public health are far too high to let polluters wreak havoc on our local agency’s ability to protect communities.”

The rejected standards would have required appliance manufacturers to gradually increase sales of zero-emission technologies like heat pumps from 30% of all units sold in 2027 to 90% by 2036. They were developed over two years of public process, including eight public working group meetings and more than 100 stakeholder outreach sessions.

The rule’s failure comes after months of an aggressive industry-led misinformation campaign to delay, and ultimately kill the rules. Led by an astroturf group calling itself the “Cost of Living Council,” industry opponents first succeeded in substantially weakening the original proposal several months ago and continued spreading fear and misinformation up until today’s vote. Industry front groups and lobbyists have spread false claims about the rule’s impacts to mobilize local government officials and state legislators.

“After months of delays and substantial weakening of these common-sense standards, SCAQMD still voted to reject modest health-protective standards addressing pollution from gas furnaces and water heaters — a major source of deadly smog,” said Christopher Chavez, Deputy Policy Director, Coalition for Clean Air. “The consequences of this decision will fall hardest on communities of color. We are extremely disappointed that SCAQMD caved to industry pressure instead of prioritizing the health of millions of Southern California residents.”

Beyond public health benefits, the transition would have delivered significant savings on energy bills for families. According to a 2025 analysis by RMI, typical California households using gas heating and air conditioning can save $370 annually by switching to heat pumps with favorable electricity rates. Those currently using propane or electric resistance heating see even greater savings, with average annual reductions of $670 across all fuel types.

Andy Romanoff, Executive Director of Alaska Heat Smart, looks at a heat pump being installed at a home in Juneau, Alaska. (Michael Penn for Earthjustice)

Generous incentive programs, like SCAQMD’s forthcoming Go Zero Rebate Program, make the switch even more attractive. Low-income families can save $2,400 to $4,200 upfront when choosing heat pumps over traditional systems, thanks to combined state, local, and utility programs. Heat pump water heaters offer similar upfront savings of $2,125 to $2,925.

“The fight for our health and for families does not end here,” said David Martinez, Climate Equity Organizer and Advocate for Climate Action Campaign. “We will not rest until SoCal residents can breathe the healthy air they deserve and that SCAQMD is required to deliver.”