California legislation on zero-emission buildings introduced

Arlington, Virginia, United States, 17 April 2018: The Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced in a Press communiqué that a bill has been passed by the California State Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, which requires the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop a plan to ensure all new residential and nonresidential buildings in the state be zero-emission by 2030, as well as develop a strategy to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions generated by the state’s existing buildings.

The Bill, AB 3232, states:

“It is the intent of the Legislature to do both of the following:

1. Establish the goal that new residential and nonresidential buildings built on or after January 1, 2030, should be zero-greenhouse-gas-emission buildings.
2. Achieve significant reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases in the state’s building stock by January 1, 2030.”

Many of the proponents of the bill have stated that they would like AB 3232 to promote the transition from natural gas end-uses to electric, the AHRI communiqué said.

AHRI, as a policy position, supports an “all of the above” approach to energy sourcing, officially opposes this legislation and will join the broad coalition of industry and businesses leading opposition efforts, the communiqué further said.

The communiqué also said that the bill will now go to the Committee on Utilities and Energy of the California State Assembly for consideration and, since it is likely to have a fiscal impact on the state, will be considered by the Appropriations Committee as well.