California proposes new rules
California promotes building electrification
New codes would encourage developers to integrate small-scale batteries into new commercial structures
The California Energy Commission is proposing new rules that would strongly favour the electrification of new buildings, boosting solar and in-house storage and reducing demand for natural gas. The new codes still have to be approved by the state’s Building Standards Commission. But many of the ideas have already been embraced by a number of the state’s cities as a broader move against new natural gas for heating gains momentum. If enacted, the codes would focus on disincentives, rather than outright bans, to encourage developers to create electric hookups for appliances in new domestic structures and to integrate small-scale batteries in new commercial structures. The rules follow a previ
Also in this section
12 March 2026
Role of world’s largest carbon cap-and-trade market under scrutiny as war in Iran threatens to drive EU energy costs to unsustainable levels
10 March 2026
Europe urgently needs to bring more projects to FID, as CCS investors warn they might divert capital to faster-growing regions
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
