Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Carolyn Bloede, Director, Sustainability Department
Subject: Agreement with TRC Engineers Inc. for a Heat Pump Water Heater Permitting Simplification Pilot
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with TRC Engineers Inc., to provide a heat pump water heater permitting simplification pilot for the County and participating cities, for the term of March 11, 2025 to December 31, 2027, for an amount not to exceed $392,690.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2021, the Sustainability Department produced a report: "Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Permit Requirements and Costs in San Mateo County" which found a variety of building permit processes across San Mateo County that make the customer experience more complicated when attempting to get an electric HPWH installed into a single-family home in a quick, safe, and hassle-free way.
In 2022, this Board adopted the Community Climate Action Plan to outline a path forward to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated in unincorporated San Mateo County and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 (Resolution No. 079264). To support the emissions reductions needed, the Sustainability Department developed a Building Decarbonization Strategy for San Mateo County. One of the initiatives in the strategy is facilitating a more seamless transition to electric technologies by simplifying the permitting process.
On December 12, 2023, the Board adopted Resolution No. 080098 authorizing an agreement with the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) for the County to implement the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) portfolio of energy-saving programs in San Mateo County for 2024 through 2027. On February 25, 2025, the Board adopted Resolution No. 080957 authorizing an amendment to the ABAG agreement to add $330,000 to fund a HPWH permitting simplification pilot.
DISCUSSION:
The objective of this p...
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