California Groups Condemn Latest Natural Gas Appliance Measures

Trade associations and companies involved in natural gas, housing, and hospitality are challenging nitrogen oxide standards for certain natural gas appliances from an air quality authority east of Los Angeles.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s rule imposing a zero-NOx standard on these appliances is preempted by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act, the groups told the US District Court for the Central District of California on Thursday.

The rule will “effectively prohibit the manufacture, sale, purchase, or installation of certain natural gas appliances” because NOx is a “byproduct of combustion” the complaint said.

The regulations have already ...