Opinion: Replacing gas-powered appliances would be economically devastating

Not a day goes by without the public learning of a new assault on the Latino community from the government, particularly at the federal level. Deportations are rising, causing fear among residents, along with a genuine sense of economic uncertainty due to stubborn inflation and the potential impacts of tariffs. Costs are increasing for homeowners, renters and small business owners. There doesn’t seem to be any relief on the horizon.

As leaders of separate Latino business and consumer organizations, we’re well aware of threats to our community.

Now, a little-known regional government agency is getting involved. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is working out of the public spotlight to require millions of residents and small businesses to switch from natural gas furnaces and water heaters to all-electric appliances. In total, more than 17 million renters, homeowners, and small businesses in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties will be affected at a staggering cost of more than $7.7 billion over the 25-year lifespan of the appliances, which amounts to over $300 million annually.

Known as Proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121, these two regulations would require replacing natural-gas powered furnaces (Rule 1111) and water heaters (Rule 1121) with costly all-electric alternatives or force consumers to pay fees just to continue using natural gas appliances. Either way, consumers will pay more when we can least afford it, given the high cost of living in Southern California. The price tag for these two rules would be among the highest in SCAQMD history.

Equally troubling, the SCAQMD has undertaken its mission with little transparency and no comprehensive community outreach. Elected officials across Southern California were largely unaware of the SCAQMD proposal until a grassroots organization informed them. Minimal engagement with residents or business owners who would be directly impacted by these mandates has not occurred.

The agency has held too few meaningful conversations with the communities that will bear the brunt of these regulations. Public hearings have been poorly advertised and scheduled presentations even cancelled. This intentional lack of engagement is alarming, given the outsized impact these proposed mandates would have on every Southern California resident, particularly within the Latino and African American communities, where housing affordability is already a crisis.

The Latino community is one of the original environmentalists. For centuries, we’ve worked the soil, growing crops and vegetables that have fed countless generations, and sought environmental justice, advocating for solutions to clean the air without displacing people from their homes and businesses. The approach taken by the SCAQMD—promulgating a policy mandate that would make it even more challenging to remain in our neighborhoods that we’ve called home for generations—without any effort to inform us of their proposals is disrespectful and wrong.

Southern California has made tremendous progress in cleaning the air. As kids, there were many days when the San Gabriel Mountains, only a few miles away, were obscured by smog. In the summer months, physical activity was restricted due to air quality alerts. Thankfully, those days are behind us.

However, without any meaningful public education, real debate or a cost-benefit analysis of Proposed Amended Rules 1111 and 1121 impacting our community, the SCAQMD needs to hit the pause button.

Regulations this broad – that impact 17 million Southern California residents – shouldn’t be rammed through without robust community outreach and feedback. The true costs of these mandates need to be understood by already stretched residents before they are reviewed by the SCAQMD governing board, not after, especially when there are better alternatives. Our community – all communities – deserve their voice to be heard and not ignored.