Submitted Comment Name Pierre THIRY Affiliation N/A Subject Rule 9-4 and 9-6 Message Dear Bay Area Air District: I am writing in support of Rules 9-4 and 9-6 that phase out the sale of NOx-emitting appliances starting in 2027 and urge the Air District to ensure those rules remain robust. Over the last five years, my husband and I swapped out all of our natural gas powered home appliances for electric ones and couldn’t be happier. Our home air quality has improved, our cost to operate these appliances has been low and our overall satisfaction has been high. We are very moderate income people and were able to take advantage of some of the rebates. Plus we feel good about trying to do our part to address climate change. Please ensure that others can make this transition. The Air District rules will dramatically improve public health. NOx emissions from space and water heating applications in the Bay Area alone are attributable to $890 million in incremental healthcare costs annually. The rules will also substantially mitigate climate change, as space and water heating accounts for about one third of all climate-related emissions from our area. While I support amending the rules to provide minimal feasibility exemptions in cases such as emergency water heater replacements (where a reprieve can be given for loaner devices), I object to more drastic changes that could undermine the equality and environmental justice benefits (by providing exemptions that might be most commonly used in historically redlined areas), or that would unnecessarily delay compliance dates. With the recent passage of state laws prohibiting building code amendments until 2030, the Air District rules are not only the most substantial, but also the most legally robust mechanisms we have for advancing healthy buildings and reducing emissions. We must not jeopardize our future. -Sincerely, Pierre Thiry 1635 Ward Street Berkeley, ÇA 94703 File Upload (i.e., Attachments): N/A N/A
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