Since our last newsletter, we’ve said goodbye to summer and witnessed the passing of a critically important piece of legislation. Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1221, a groundbreaking climate bill that will pave the way for neighborhood-scale decarbonization in the state, potentially saving customers $20 billion over the next decade alone by replacing old pipes with clean energy infrastructure. The bill prioritizes bringing clean, affordable energy to communities that have been most impacted by pollution and will help California fast track clean energy upgrades for neighborhoods. SB 1221 serves as a model for this approach for the nation and is a truly monumental breakthrough in our movement.
Speaking of good things happening in California, the California Heat Pump Partnership (CAHPP) Advisory Board met in person this week to discuss strategies to rapidly scale the heat pump market in the state with a major focus on engagement and support for installers. The group plans to launch a blueprint outlining policy and market actions to achieve the state’s goal of 6 million heat pumps by 2030.
In other news, we hosted an incredibly informative webinar last week on the Future of Gas proceedings in the U.S. If you weren't one of the 500 people who registered, we've added a resource page with the slides, recording, and notes from the event to our website for your reference.
Lastly, the decarbonization movement’s opportunity to improve climate resiliency and promote environmental justice is what keeps me motivated to do this work. And though I’m heartened by our progress, I’m also feeling somber and thinking of friends and colleagues in the southeast as they reckon with the historic aftermath of Hurricane Helene. If you’re looking for ways to help, FEMA has a list of resources broken down by state.
Yours in decarbonizing,
Panama
Events
BDC Presents: State of the Union: Post-Election Decarb Outlook
November 7, 2024 10am PST / 1 pm ET
Join BDC’s own Kristin George Bagdanov and Rose Stephens-Booker as they review decarbonization policy from 2024 and analyze the results of the 2024 election. Special guest to be announced soon!
We invite you to join us for our monthly discussion of building decarbonization policy in California! Learn about legislation, regulation, and what’s on the climate policy horizon as our coalition works to advance neighborhood-scale decarbonization, statewide healthy air standards, and energy affordability.
Environmental advocacy organizations, utilities, unions, and other building decarbonization stakeholders are working to shape the implementation of several New York neighborhood-scale zero-emission thermal energy network projects.
We invite you to join Allison Considine from BDC, Commissioner Jeanette Moy from the New York State Office of General Services, Jessica Azulay from the Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE), Greg Koumoullos from Con Edison, and Brett Thomason from the Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638 as they explore the progress New York is making on the development of utility and non-utility thermal energy networks and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for New York’s neighborhood-scale transition to clean heating and cooling.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Seminar 7: Workforce Requirement in Home Electrification and Decarbonization
October 30, 2024 - 11 am PT / 2 pm ET
The successful transition to home electrification and decarbonization is important for meeting climate goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the current workforce presents challenges to support this shift, with a notable shortage of skilled construction workers capable of delivering high-quality, energy-efficient retrofits. This presentation delves into the urgent need for workforce development in this sector, examining the emerging job opportunities, skill deficits, and training programs required to support a clean energy transition.
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and BDC co-hosted a joint Climate Week NYC event, Thermal Energy Networks: Invest in the Future of Heat. Watch the recording of BDC’s Ania Camargo Cortes and other panelists discuss the opportunities and challenges facing utilities in the U.S. as they work to provide their customers with clean heating and cooling.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1221 into law, a landmark climate bill co-sponsored by BDC. SB 1221 will shift ratepayer investments from aging natural gas pipelines towards clean energy infrastructure, such as neighborhood-scale decarbonization and thermal energy networks, at no cost to residents.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) adopted stricter building energy efficiency standards which will take effect January 2026, promoting the use of zero-emission alternatives like heat pumps over gas appliances in new homes and commercial buildings.
BDC’s own Panama Bartholomy is highlighted in ArcCA Digest talking about a climate resilient future. “The movement for healthier, climate-resilient buildings is only gaining momentum...I believe that architects can be leaders in designing the next generation of cost-efficient, healthy, and climate-friendly buildings in the Golden State.”
When can efficient electric appliances outcompete low gas prices? How many billions of dollars can we save by electrifying efficiently? This new blog examines the coefficient of performance (COP) of different heating and cooling appliances and advocates for wise, cost-effective electrification using the most efficient systems available: geothermal networks.
Missed our Climate Week NYC event, co-hosted with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility? No worries—here you can read the highlights from our panel of speakers across sectors. Learn how - when guided by the principles of a just energy transition - thermal energy networks can spark fruitful collaborations across and between labor unions, advocates, investors, and businesses.
The Switch Is On
The Switch Is On is a consumer inspiration initiative powered by the Building Decarbonization Coalition to educate, inspire, and make switching to electric appliances easier.
As the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) rolls out new incentives for home electrification, The Switch Is On newsletter will be your go-to source for staying informed. Whether you’re curious about upcoming rebates, looking to upgrade your appliances, or ready to take steps toward a more efficient home, we’ll provide timely updates to help you make the most of these opportunities.
Furthering our commitment to knowledge sharing, we are excited to continue our seasonal ‘Report Roundup’ segment to highlight insightful reports from other organizations across the building decarbonization movement and share the latest developments, best practices, and strategies.
Just Solutions, September 2024 This report analyzes decades worth of social policy to inform future climate policymaking to more effectively serve frontline communities. It identifies key anti-poverty policy fundamentals, such as focusing on prevention, and effective anti-poverty policy designs, such as entitlement programs (e.g. Social Security, Medicare, etc.) for policymakers to consider as they develop climate policies. It also highlights policy aspects that fail to deliver benefits to frontline communities, including regressive tax policies.
Blending Hydrogen & Natural Gas: A Road to Nowhere for New Yorkers Environmental Defense Fund, September 2024 This report refutes the claim that mixing hydrogen into the natural gas supply is an interim building decarbonization solution for New York state. It compares a 20% hydrogen / 80% natural gas blend pathway with an equivalent heat pump pathway and finds that the hydrogen pathway would reduce emissions by 7% whereas the equivalent heat pump pathway would nearly eliminate building sector emissions while using 87.2% less electricity. This report highlights the unscalability of mixing hydrogen into the gas distribution system, which would ultimately continue New York’s reliance on natural gas beyond 2050.
Community Clean Heat Infrastructure Reports Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition, September 2024 The Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition implements and develops equitable strategies for zero-emissions buildings throughout the Midwest by 2050. Their team collaborated with AnnDyl Policy Group and Slipstream to prepare informative, actionable “Policy Barrier and Opportunity” reports for thermal energy network development in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Policy
California
In a major win for neighborhood-scale decarbonization in California, SB 1221 (Min), a bill BDC co-sponsored along with NRDC and EarthJustice, was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 25th. SB 1221 is a landmark climate bill that pilots an approach to allow utilities to shift ratepayer investments away from aging natural gas pipelines towards more cost-effective and climate-resilient investments in neighborhoods—a huge step towards supporting responsible utility investment, energy affordability, and a just transition to our zero-carbon future. Check out the full press release here.
In other legislative news, following the conclusion of the California Legislature’s ordinary session on August 31st, the Governor had until September 30th to sign or veto legislation. Any bills not acted upon by the Governor after this date automatically pass into law without his signature. The Legislature now moves into winter recess to prepare for the start of a new two-year session in January of 2025.
California Air Resources Board
CARB is hosting a series of regional listening sessions to inform development of a potential rule to limit the sale of greenhouse gas-emitting space and water heating appliances in California. These listening sessions are an opportunity for CARB staff to share information, hear public thoughts, and identify potential solutions. The full schedule of sessions, including specific topics and registration information, can be found here.
The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has launched the second round of its Geothermal Energy Grant Program (GEGP). Projects eligible for this round of grant funding include single-structure geothermal projects and thermal energy networks; applications are due by 5:00 p.m. MT on Friday, January 3, 2025.
Xcel Energy Thermal Energy Pilot Projects: Xcel filed its application to pursue thermal energy networks and selected five communities for additional consideration. The sites are:
Sun Valley—a location in a geographically central neighborhood in the metro Denver region and home to residents representing more than 33 different cultural backgrounds and speaking more than 28 languages. Today, 94% of the neighborhood’s housing market is subsidized, with only 5% of the homes occupied by their owners and more than 80% of the population living below the poverty line.
South Frisco—a location along the town’s Main Street that includes a mixed building stock of residential, commercial, and municipal buildings.
Lakeview Terrace and Dam Road—a location on the northern border of Frisco, with a mixed building stock of residential, commercial, and municipal buildings.
Breckenridge Elementary and Brewery—a location in Breckenridge, with a large number of single-family buildings, retail buildings, and a brewery.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Campus—a location in Pleasant View at NREL’s South Table Mountain Park campus.
Colorado Energy Office releases request for information (RFI) and program plans: CEO released a second RFI for its rebate programs. The RFI includes questions on contractor qualifications, methods for ensuring high-quality installs, and specifically asks how aggregators can support the rebate programs. The RFI is open through October 16th.
Illinois
The Illinois Commerce Commission voted on Thursday September, 26th to extend the final report deadline for the Future of Gas process until February, 2026. This decision affects Phase 2 that started in August 2024. The next phase will be split into three steps: 2A, 2B, and 2C. The first step, identified as Phase 2A, will explore decarbonization pathway options and technologies between August 2024 and February 2025. Phase 2B, will convene Decarbonization Pathway Working Groups to further discuss pathway options and comparative data between March 2025 and June 2025. Phase 2C, which will begin in July 2025 and conclude in October 2025, will include identification of legislative and regulatory options related to Future of Gas issues. The Phase 2 report will be prepared between November 2025 and February 2026 by E3. To learn more about the Future of Gas schedule in Illinois click here.
New York
Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act (UTENJA)
BDC filed comments on the performance metrics that have been proposed to measure the success of New York’s UTENJA thermal energy network pilot projects and report information on these pilots to other states interested in developing thermal energy networks.
While BDC generally supports the revised draft of UTENJA project performance metrics, it recommended that the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) collect additional information on the building envelope and building distribution systems of connected customers, as well as information on the customer engagement activities utilities are using for these projects.
BDC also recommended that the PSC update the metric proposed to measure the number of jobs created during the pilot projects' design, construction, and operation.
New York State Building Code
BDC worked with The Alliance for Clean Energy New York and Rewiring America to submit comments on the New York State Code Council’s proposed changes to New York State’s Building Code.
The organizations applauded the Code Council for including electrification and energy efficiency provisions in the proposed changes.
The organizations also commented on some of the proposed changes and suggested other changes to the state’s Building Code that would better enable New York to meet the climate justice and emission reduction mandates of New York State’s Climate Act.
Gas Planning Docket
BDC collaborated with the Sierra Club and Earthjustice to submit comments to the PSC in support of a Staff Straw Proposal to eliminate extra regulatory incentives (those that go beyond the statutory “100-ft rule”) for new methane gas line hookups.
The organizations urged the PSC to adopt the recommendations in the Staff Straw Proposal, which would help end incentives for gas interconnections that go beyond those mandated by statute.
Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification technical conference on Low-to-Moderate-Income (LMI) electrification
On September 20th, The New York Department of Public Service (DPS) hosted a technical conference on building electrification challenges for low and moderate-income households. BDC and our coalition of partners participated in the technical conference to help make the case for why these programs must be designed to overcome barriers to LMI electrification if we do not want to leave LMI households behind as NY builds an emissions-free economy.
Washington
Anti-Decarb Ballot Initiative: The effort to defeat the far-sweeping anti-decarbonization ballot initiative is included in the Defend Washington umbrella campaign! Cities and counties have been passing resolutions opposing I-2066, including Seattle, Vancouver, Kirkland, and others. This measure would require utilities and local governments to provide gas to eligible customers; prevent state approval of rate plans requiring or incentivizing gas service termination, restricting access to gas service, or making it cost-prohibitive; and prohibit the state energy code, localities, and air pollution control agencies from penalizing gas use. It would repeal sections of Chapter 351, Laws of 2024, including planning requirements for cost-effective electrification and prohibitions on gas rebates and incentives.
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