SECTION 1.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) In 2016, California’s buildings were responsible for directly emitting 37 million metric tons (MMt) of greenhouse gases (GHGs)
(2) A zero-emissions building code would require that buildings do not emit GHGs from onsite sources, and rely solely on clean energy.
(3) One-third of California’s 2045 building stock will be built between now and 2045.
(4) New, decarbonized, all-electric buildings cost less to build to code than those requiring additional gas infrastructure.
(5) Decarbonizing new construction could seed the market for retrofitting existing buildings to become GHG-free.
(6) Over 50 cities and counties in California have considered policies to support all-electric construction, while 39 have already updated their building codes to become GHG-free.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act to compliment the anticipated actions by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to set a zero-emission deadline for new construction by 2025.