What this bill does: AB 691 seeks to extend the California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency (CalSHAPE) Ventilation Program, which funds work to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency in schools with and without HVAC.
Why it matters: The landmark CalSHAPE program is currently set to sunset on January 1, 2027. This legislation seeks to extend the program by four years. Such an extension would allow for one or more additional rounds of funding. Additionally, the new legislation would revise and recast the definition of a “noncompliant appliance” to additionally include a commercial propane, natural gas, or oil water heater. Such water heaters would be eligible for replacement by a qualifying electric water heater. Finally, the bill would allow CEC to allocate remaining moneys between the ventilation and plumbing programs based on need rather than according to the prior 75/25 percent allocation formula.
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