Bay Area Air District OKS $3 Million For Fireplace, Wood Stove Upgrades

News submitted from the Bay Area Quality Management District:

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA - The Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors approved $3 million in funding for the upgrade of wood-burning devices with cleaner heating options.

Incentives for this program are expected to be available later this summer. The funding will provide assistance for potentially up to 1,300 Bay Area households to replace older, more polluting fireplaces or wood stoves with cleaner electric heat pumps, or natural gas or propane stoves or inserts. Residents also have the option to decommission their fireplace or non-EPA-certified wood stove, permanently taking it out of service.

“This program will help reduce the health impacts from wood smoke,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “This incentive program will provide Bay Area residents, especially those in areas heavily impacted by wood smoke, cleaner heating options to benefit the health of their family and community.”

Incentives range from $750 up to $12,000 maximum depending on the type of new device, income level, location and if the household is exempt due to a wood-burning device being the sole source of heating. Incentives will be available for heat pumps and natural gas or propane stoves or inserts.

A full breakdown of available incentives is shown below:

Funding by Device --- Estimated Cost --- Air District Incentive

Heat Pump --- $4,000-$12,000 --- $3,500
Decommission Fireplace --- $1,500-$5,000 --- $750
Gas-fueled Stove/Insert
(Natural Gas or Propane) --- $3,500-$5,000 --- $1,000

Enhanced Funding for Select Groups

Low-Income Household - $8,500
Exempt Household - $1,500
Areas Heavily Impacted by Wood Smoke - $1,500

The Air District has offered incentive programs for wood burning fireplaces or stoves in the past, starting in 2008. Incentives ranged from $200 - $600 for new gas, pellet or EPA-certified fireplaces or wood stoves. The new program will only offer incentives for non-wood burning devices. Other air districts in California and Washington state also offer wood-burning device changeout programs with incentives ranging from $1,500 - $7,200.

The Center for Sustainable Energy was chosen through a Request for Proposal process to administer the program for the Air District. In addition to the $3 million in funding approved by the Air District Board of Directors, more incentive funds may be available from the State of California in the future.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (www.baaqmd.gov) is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area, including San Mateo County.