California Introduces Bill to Boost Heat Pump Adoption
- brg_news_room
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
USA: California’s Senate Bill 282, known as the “Heat Pump Access Act,” aims to simplify the state’s permitting process for heat pump installations and establish a contractor certification program. The bill proposes a uniform, expedited permitting approach, prohibiting jurisdictions or homeowners associations from imposing requirements beyond state code. It mandates instant or faster permit issuance, limits the process to a single permit, allows self-certification for code compliance, and introduces capped, standardized fees to make installations more affordable. The bill addresses issues stemming from the state’s fragmented system—600 jurisdictions with differing requirements—which have made installations slow and costly.
To support California’s climate goals of installing 6 million heat pumps by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, the bill also requires the commission to create a statewide heat pump installation certification and training program by 2027 for licensed contractors working on residential heat pump HVAC systems and water heaters. With under 2 million heat pumps currently installed, California must deploy over 4 million more in five years. The bill also highlights safety concerns, noting fossil-fuel-fired space and water heaters have resulted in over 354 fatalities in the state. The Heat Pump Access Act is scheduled for hearing on April 23.
Source: PV Magazine