Advocacy News

  • 08.28.24

    Staff - Mark Valentini - Government - CTE

    PHCC Supports Two New Bills in Congress

    Earlier this month, at the recommendation of the PHCC Government Affairs Committee, the PHCC Board of Directors voted to support two pieces of legislation currently making their way through Congress. The CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act sponsored by Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) would allow career and technical education schools access to federal grants to provide mental health and …

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  • 08.28.24

    Staff - Mark Valentini - Government - CTE

    California Legislative Day

    On August 15, PHCC of California hosted another successful Legislative Day at the state capitol in Sacramento. The annual event attracts over a dozen contractors and local executives from across the Golden State to participate in a morning issues briefing hosted by the state chapter, followed by an afternoon of meetings with legislative offices in the capitol building. PHCC—National Association …

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  • 07.24.24

    Bradford White Water Heaters - natural gas - energy - rebates - electric - election - boilers

    More States Looking to Policies to Outlaw Natural Gas

    Since the City of Berkeley passed an ordinance that prohibited natural gas hookups to newly constructed homes in 2019, the future of natural gas as a building fuel source has been a hotly debated topic in our industry. Indeed, Berkeley was followed by dozens of other California communities that adopted similar policies, and Washington State even enacted residential and commercial building codes …

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  • 06.14.24

    plumbing

    DOL Overtime Rule Goes to Court; Employers: Get Ready for July 1 Deadline!

    The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently revised the regulations governing eligibility for overtime pay, specifically raising the annual pay level for certain exempt employees. The current threshold is $35,568 annually ($684 weekly) but will be raised in steps. The first step set for July 1 of this year would raise the threshold payroll to $43,888 annually ($844 weekly), and the second step …

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  • 06.04.24

    Bradford White Water Heaters - natural gas - energy - rebates - electric - election - boilers

    DOE Final Rule on Commercial Water Heater Efficiency Standards Takes Effect in 2026

    Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a Final Rule for energy conservation standards for residential water heaters. While this topic has understandably caught the attention of many in our industry who are still working on examining and analyzing the document, it in some ways serves as a reminder that DOE has already finalized energy conservation standards for …

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  • 04.24.24

    Bradford White Water Heaters - natural gas - energy - rebates - electric - election - boilers

    CARB Proposes a Statewide Zero Emission Space and Water Standard

    On February 28, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) put forth a landmark proposal to require all space and water heater equipment sold in the state of California to meet zero-emissions by a set date. The proposal comes on the heels of the Zero-NOx space and water heating standards adopted by Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in March 2023, and recent Zero-NOx water heating …

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  • 03.26.24

    Bradford White Water Heaters - natural gas - energy - rebates - electric - election - boilers

    Proposed HFC Refrigerant Regulations Threaten Regulatory Stability

    At the beginning of this year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) proposed amendments to how the state regulates HFC refrigerant gasses that are contained within appliances. While other states have been content to largely follow the lead established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on regulating these substances, DEC’s proposal represents an …

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  • 03.20.24

    Staff - Mark Valentini - Government - CTE

    Congress on Cusp of Government Funding Plan

    In what is likely one final last-minute deal on government funding for the remainder of the fiscal year, lawmakers look to avert a partial government shutdown by agreeing to a long-term continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the federal government fully operational through September 30. A first tier of funding keeping the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, …

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  • 03.15.24

    Staff - Mark Valentini - Government - CTE

    Continuing Resolution Provides Long-Term Fix for Partial Government Shutdown, More to Be Done

    In another last-minute deal, lawmakers averted a partial government shutdown by agreeing to a long-term continuing resolution (CR) that would keep parts of the federal government funded for the remainder of the fiscal year. This first tier of funding will keep the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and related agencies funded …

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  • 02.21.24

    Bradford White Water Heaters - natural gas - energy - rebates - electric - election - boilers

    By What Authority? A Brief Overview of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)

    In 2023, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) was very active in regulating residential water heater and boiler product efficiencies, as has been addressed in this column previously. But what gives DOE the authority to take such actions, and what exactly are they allowed and not allowed to do? The answer to these questions come from EPCA. It is a federal law that was passed in 1975 and …

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