Climate Politics

San Francisco Region Bans Gas Appliances — But Not Stoves

Air pollution from gas home furnaces and water heaters is at the heart of the latest fight over fossil fuels.

Photographer: Angel Garcia/Bloomberg
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San Francisco Bay Area regulators on Wednesday approved a de facto ban on new home furnaces and water heaters that burn natural gas — but not gas-fired stoves — as states, cities and political parties fight over the fuel’s future.

The region’s air pollution regulators overwhelmingly approved the ban, which would take effect in several stages from 2027 through 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 in-home use of the fossil fuel.