Coalition of governors announces goal of 20 million heat pump installations

A coalition of 25 governors across the U.S. on Thursday announced new commitments to install a total of 20 million heat pumps in their states by the end of the decade.

The organization — the U.S. Climate Alliance — and Biden administration officials made the announcement Thursday morning at a Climate Week event in New York. The installation goal would more than quadruple the roughly 4.7 million heat pumps installed in the U.S.

Emissions from buildings, both direct and indirect, comprise more than 30 percent of America’s greenhouse gas emissions. Climate advocates have hailed heat pumps as an opportunity to reduce these emissions because the devices cool and heat buildings while using less electricity than air conditioning and can be used in lieu of emissions-producing technology like gas furnaces.

“Transitioning to heat pumps in Maine is creating good-paying jobs, curbing our carbon emissions, cutting costs for families, and making people more comfortable in their homes,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), co-chairwoman of the alliance, said in a statement.

“When I took office in 2019, I set a goal of installing 100,000 heat pumps in Maine by 2025. After reaching that goal two years ahead of schedule, we are now on our way to achieving our new target of 275,000 heat pump installations by the time I leave office in 2027,” she added. “Maine is meeting our climate action goals, and we’re proud to lead the way as part of the U.S. Climate Alliance to encourage other states to do the same.”  

Maine met that target of 100,000 heat pumps over the summer, two years ahead of schedule.

Individual members of the coalition also announced subgoals at the event Thursday. For example, 10 member states — California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington — announced they will explore zero-emissions targets for space and water heaters.

The announcement comes days after a coalition of Democratic members of Congress asked the Biden administration to take speedier action on a rebate program for energy-efficient home heating technology including heat pumps, warning that without final guidance, those eligible could miss out on the rebates.