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RESOLUTION NO. 2026-R
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CULVER CITY CALIFORNIA, RESOLUTION TO
ACCELERATE THE DECARBONIZATION OF INDUSTRIAL
BOILERS AND POLLUTING EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE AIR
QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN CULVER CITY.
WHEREAS , Air pollution is a serious threat to public health across the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regi on, and the region is in severe nonattainment of federal health-based standards for Ozone and fine particulate matter (PM
2.5), which are linked to respiratory illness, card iovascular disease, and premature death; and
WHEREAS , industrial sources, including boilers, process he aters, furnaces, and other equipment, emit significant quantities of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM), all of which contribute to smog and other pollution that harms public health; and WHEREAS, California has the largest manufacturing sector in the United States, producing a wide range of essential goods, from food and beverages to medical supplies, and employs 1.2 million workers; neverthe less, this sector is also a significant source of air pollution due to its reliance on outdated, emitting technologies; and WHEREAS, Southern California is home to approximately 800 manufacturing facilities and large buildings operating nearly 1,900 boilers and furnaces, which pollute our air with NOx, PM2.5, and other air contaminants that degrade public health and air quality; and
WHEREAS, the decarbonization of industrial boilers and other combustion systems eliminates on-site emissions of NOx, PM2.5, CO, and toxic air contaminants,
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thereby removing indoor air pollution hazards, miti gating health risks, and safeguarding workers from chronic exposure to harmful emissions; and WHEREAS , the SCAQMD has established a precedent for bold action by adopting the first-in-the-nation zero-emissions standards for small industrial boilers with a heat rating under 2 MMBtu/hr (Rule 1146.2), which are projected to reduce pollution from over 1 million boilers and water heaters over the n ext decade, eliminating 5.6 tons of NOx pollution per day by 2033—pollution reduction t hat is equivalent to removing half of the region’s cars from the road; and
WHEREAS , replacing polluting boilers in California with zero-emissions technologies could save $47.5 billion in public health costs; and WHEREAS , the 2022 Air Quality Management Plan from SCAQMD clearly states tha t the “only way to achieve the required nitrogen oxide (NOx) reductions is through extensive use of zero-NOx technologies across all stationary and mobile sources”; and, WHEREAS , strengthening Rules 1146 and 1146.1 with zero-emission limits represents the next critical step to save more lives and prevent additional asthma cases from commercial and industrial pollution sources; and
WHEREAS , adopting similarly strong zero-emission standards for medium and large industrial boilers, steam generators, and process heating equipment with a heat rating above 2 MMBtu/hr would extend those health benefits to the 17 million residents in the South Coast Air Quality Management District, particularly those living closest to industrial activity; and
WHEREAS , local government leadership is essential to accelerate the transition to a modernized, clean, and equitable manufacturing sector that protects health, reduces pollution, and supports new family-sustaining jobs in clean energy and clean tech.
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NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Culver City, California, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE as follows:
T
he City Council of the City of Culver City, California:
1. Calls on all industrial operators within city limits to replace polluting industrial boilers and other heating equipment with zero-emissions alternatives without delay, as soon as technically and economically feasible; and
2. Urges the South Coast Air Quality Management District, including through amending its rules 1146 and 1146.1, the California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board, and the California Public Utilities Commission to provide strong regulatory, financial, and technical support to advance adoption of zero-emissions technologies and accelerate the decarbonization of industrial systems, with priority for facilities located in communities most impacted by poor air quality; and
3. Commits to exploring and planning to integrate air quality, health equity, and environmental justice into all industrial permitting, planning, and economic development decisions, in order to protect public health and ensure safe, breathable air for all residents.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this _____ day of __________ 2026.
FREDDY PUZA, Mayor
City of Culver City, California
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
JEREMY BOCCHINO, City Clerk HEATHER S. BAKER, City Attorney