Clean Energy Technology in California Deserves Long-Term Investment

Author: Marc Costa, Director of Policy and Planning, The Energy Coalition 

Millions in Southern California live and breathe some of the worst air quality in the nation. Thankfully, the Go Zero Rebate Program will launch this summer with $21 million, offering homeowners up to $4,000 in rebates to upgrade to highly efficient heat pumps when their health-harming gas furnaces or water heaters burn out.

Toxic pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) contribute to smog formation and pose other serious health risks, particularly for children and the elderly, and a quarter of this pollution comes from homes and buildings alone. To clean up the air in the South Coast Basin—which includes Orange County and parts of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties—we urgently need the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to pass strong healthy air standards for home appliances and commit to expanding this key incentive program.

Go Zero dedicates 75% of funding for low-income and overburdened communities, including renters and seniors, and it is a smart, equitable solution to help make clean energy upgrades more affordable and accessible. But for Go Zero to deliver lasting results, SCAQMD must expand the program and commit to sustained funding of at least $100 million so that contractors, manufacturers, local governments, and utilities can plan and coordinate effectively.

At The Energy Coalition, we have spent five decades working with California communities to unite public agencies and households, and help ensure energy equity, cleaner air, and affordable access to climate solutions. We’ve witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact of programs like Go Zero, including in Bassett Avocado Heights, an eastern Los Angeles County neighborhood facing extreme heat, where many homes have historically had no air conditioning or outdated units. To address this, we started our Bassett Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community (BAAEC) project to help residents replace old gas furnaces with efficient electric heat pumps for clean heating and reliable cooling. The average BAAEC home spent about 6% of its annual income on energy before the retrofits, and after replacing gas equipment with clean energy technology, the average home is now seeing only 2% of its income go toward energy bills. Go Zero builds on this model—but we need consistent, multi-year investments to achieve equity and build long-term market confidence.

SCAQMD is preparing to vote on healthy air standards for gas furnaces and water heaters this June, and by pairing them with expanded, sustained funding for the Go Zero Rebate Program, they have the historic opportunity to bring healthy, safe, and efficient home upgrades to nearly 18 million Californians.