The EBD program is part of California’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. | Photo Credit: California Energy Commission
SAN DIEGO — State and local officials will gather today to celebrate the completion of the first Equitable Building Decarbonization (EBD) project in Southern California, marking a milestone in California’s effort to reduce building emissions while expanding access to clean-energy technologies for low-income residents.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at Jean C. McKinney Manor Apartments in San Diego, where residents have received no-cost electrification upgrades through the EBD program, an initiative overseen by the California Energy Commission and administered in Southern California by Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department.
The project includes the installation of electric appliances and equipment designed to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Upgrades at the property include induction cooking ranges and electric heat pump water heaters.
Officials say the program is intended to serve communities disproportionately affected by pollution, extreme heat, wildfire risk and other climate-related challenges. Eligible households may receive heat pumps for space heating and cooling, heat pump water heaters, induction ranges, electric clothes dryers and related building improvements needed to support the installations.
The event will feature remarks from California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister; Minh Le of Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department Energy Services division; Yessenia Felix, ownership representative for McKinney Manor; a resident of the property; and representatives from the office of California Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins.
Following the remarks, officials will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony before offering a demonstration of the electrification upgrades inside a residential unit.
The EBD program is part of California’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. State leaders have established goals that include installing 6 million heat pumps by 2030, creating 3 million climate-ready and climate-friendly homes by 2030, and expanding that total to 7 million homes by 2035.
Through the program, homeowners and renters in selected communities can receive building retrofits at no cost. Installation work is performed by certified local contractors.
In Southern California, the EBD program serves Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Imperial counties. Initial program efforts are focused on selected communities throughout the region, including Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Ana, Compton, Lancaster, Victorville, Wilmington and others identified as priorities for building decarbonization and energy-equity investments.
The Jean C. McKinney Manor project represents the first completed EBD initiative in Southern California and serves as an early example of how the state plans to accelerate building electrification while directing resources to historically underserved communities.