South Coast AQMD Expands GO ZERO Program with $60 Million in New Funding

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) Governing Board has approved an additional $60.2 million for the GO ZERO Incentive Program, following high public demand. The expansion, approved on October 2, 2026, builds on the program's initial $21 million pilot.

The pilot program, launched in September 2025, offered rebates to help homeowners, multi-family property owners, and small businesses replace gas furnaces and water heaters with zero-emission heat pumps. Demand quickly exceeded available funding, with multi-family allocations reserved within two weeks and single-family funding depleted in under six months.

The new funding includes $20 million each for single-family and multi-family rebates, with an additional $20 million to be allocated based on demand. The program is also expanding to include solar water heating as a qualifying option alongside heat pump water heaters.

Rebate tiers have been adjusted, offering $500 to $1,000 for most single-family households, with higher amounts of $1,000-$2,000 available in disadvantaged communities. Multi-family rebates will range from $500-$1,000 per unit, capped at $300,000 per property. At least 75 percent of funding will continue to be prioritized for applicants in these communities. Zero-emission heat pumps are up to three to four times more efficient than traditional gas systems.