San Francisco Bay Area regulators on Wednesday approved a de facto ban on new residential stoves and water heaters that burn natural gas — but not gas stoves — as states, cities and political parties battle over the future of the fuel.
The region’s air pollution regulator approved the ban, which will take effect in stages from 2027 to 2031 depending on the size and type of equipment. Notably, the measure does not target gas-burning stoves, which have emerged as a cultural flashpoint in the debate over phasing out the use of fossil fuels in the home.
The gas industry and many Republicans say the gas ban raises costs for homeowners while infringing on their right to heat their homes and cook as they please. Climate activists see replacing gas appliances with electric appliances as a necessary step to combat climate change, and they see the Bay Area’s new ordinance as a way to do so.
Regulations from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District focus on furnaces and water heaters and the air pollution they create, especially nitrogen oxides (NOx). Produced when gas is burned, NOx is a component of smog and can worsen asthma and cardiovascular problems. The district estimates gas-burning furnaces and water heaters produce more NOx each year than all the cars in the area. Water heaters and furnaces sold in the Bay Area must emit no NOx by the implementation date, effectively forcing homeowners to buy electric heaters or heat pumps.
The requirement has raised concerns from some residents that, if their water heater or furnace suddenly breaks, they will be forced to pay more for electrical replacements — if they can find one available. District councilman Ray Mueller said while he supports the idea, the requirement could burden homeowners, especially if switching to electric appliances forces them to upgrade their home’s electrical panels and wiring.
“Candidly, what I have lost from this discussion is the fact that there is a middle class out there that is really hurt,” Mueller, a San Mateo county supervisor who abstained from voting on the measure.
Most council members, however, said that setting the year requirement into the future, the district will send a clear signal to the market to offer more heat pump and electric water heater models, bringing down the price. The measure also requires council members to review market conditions two years before the first implementation deadline, which can then be adjusted if necessary.
“Need is the mother of invention, so what we do is create a need and the market will respond,” said council member Juan Gonzalez, mayor of the city of San Leandro.
Even with those measures, many gas-burning furnaces and water heaters in the Bay Area will continue to run for decades into the future, said Leah Louis-Prescott, with RMI climate and energy tanks. Homeowners can still repair old gas-burning appliances after 2031.
“It makes sure consumers buy cleaner appliances and avoid locking in decades of pollution,” said Louis-Prescott, who is involved in RMI’s carbon-free building team. “It’s not a ban – it’s a gradual phase, as your device breaks down.”
The gas debate has raged for years in the Bay Area, home to more than 7 million people. Berkeley officials in 2019 passed the state’s first ordinance banning gas connections in new buildings. San Francisco and other cities nationwide are following suit, with New York City enacting its own ban in 2021 and Governor Kathy Hochul this year calling for a statewide version. The gas industry and its political allies have pushed back, with at least 20 states passing laws that prevent cities from restricting their use of the fuel.