Agoura Hills City Council Backs Clean Manufacturing Transition

 Agoura Hills backs clean manufacturing transition with support for zero-emission industrial boilers Rules 1146x, requiring zero-emissions industrial boilers for manufacturers and large facilities, can slash smog-forming pollution, improve health of nearby communities Agoura Hills, CA - 

Continuing a wave of local action across Southern California, the Agoura Hills City Council unanimously passed a resolution this week in support of Rule 1146.2 and 1146 and 1146.1 – subsequent rules under development by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) – to promote the adoption of zero-emissions industrial boilers in the Los Angeles region. 

Rule 1146.2, first adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in June 2024, is the nation’s first policy to transition industrial water heaters and boilers to zero-emission alternatives such as industrial heat pumps.

“Air pollution doesn’t stop at city boundaries. Supporting stronger regional standards is a common sense step to protect public health and move toward a cleaner, zero emission future. Agoura Hills has long been a leader in environmental stewardship,” said Agoura Hills Mayor Jeremy Wolf. “This resolution continues that leadership by supporting innovative, zero-emission solutions that will improve air quality across the region and help meet critical climate and public health goals” 

More than 1,900 industrial boilers across Southern California still depend on methane gas to produce everything from food and beverage production to cardboard and medicine. Large institutions such as hospitals and universities likewise rely on this outdated technology for heating needs, contributing to smog formation, increasing the risk of asthma attacks, and harming the health of nearby residents. 

“Agoura Hills’ action adds to growing momentum across Southern California to modernize industrial equipment and transition away from outdated, polluting technologies,” said Mandeera Wijetunga, Campaign Organizing Strategist at Sierra Club California. “With zero-emission alternatives like industrial heat pumps already commercially available, there’s a clear path to significantly cut harmful pollution while improving energy efficiency. This kind of local leadership helps accelerate progress in Los Angeles County, delivering cleaner air, stronger public health protections, and long-term economic benefits for communities across the South Coast region.” 

Southern California’s communities of color and low-income neighborhoods –– already burdened by some of the poorest air quality in the country — continue to face disproportionate exposure to pollution from nearby industrial facilities. In fact, more than 50% of industrial boilers in the region are located in environmental justice communities, operating near homes, schools, and parks. Reducing this hidden source of pollution is a critical step toward rectifying long-standing environmental injustices and improving community health. 

“Agoura Hills’ leadership shows what’s possible when communities listen to the growing call from young people to act on clean air and climate,” said Tomas Castro, Climate Equity Organizer with the Climate Action Campaign. “Across California, students and youth organizers are stepping up because we’re the ones who will live with the consequences of today’s decisions. By supporting strong zero-emission standards under Rules 1146, 1146.1, and 1146.2, Agoura Hills is helping turn that momentum into real action for healthier communities and a more just, sustainable future.” 

Zero-emissions alternatives are already commercially available and can meet the needs of these facilities while reducing energy use by up to 32%. Students at colleges and universities—among the largest operators of industrial boilers in the region—are increasingly stepping up to support this transition. In recent days alone, student resolutions backing clean, zero-emission technologies have been advanced or adopted by student governments at California State University, Long Beach, the University of California Student Association (UCSA), and the University of California, Riverside, reflecting growing momentum across higher education. By upgrading California’s fossil fuel industrial boilers with industrial heat pumps, the state could avoid 3,220 premature deaths and nearly 2 million asthma attacks and reap $47.5 billion in health benefits by 2050. ###

Name: Rommel Mendoza

Phone: (714) 472 - 1561

Email: rommel@sunstonestrategies.com

Team — Sunstone Strategies is based in Oakland, California on the unceded land of the Muwekma Ohlone tribe.   

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