Air District Advances Public Education Contract as Water Heater Rules Spark Debate

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's board approved a contract to fund public education on new appliance rules, betting that correcting misinformation now will enable a more productive policy conversation when amendments return this fall — even as two directors warned the move signals the board has already made up its mind.

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The meeting's most contested agenda item asked the board to authorize a contract supporting public education for Regulations 9-6 and 9-4, the air district's rules governing water heaters and other appliances. The debate exposed a split between directors who see public confusion as an urgent threat to good policymaking and those who believe the board should wait until rule amendments are finalized.