| Jan. 4, 2008 New
Board Member Sworn In
South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board Chairman
William Burke today announced the creation of a voluntary “SoCal Climate
Solutions Exchange” program to address global warming at the local level.
“Through the years we have gained a much better understanding of the
likely effects of climate change on local air quality and the increasing
need for carbon mitigation tools,” Burke said. “I envision this initiative
as a way to provide businesses with access to real credits that can achieve
local air quality benefits.”
In the next few months, AQMD staff will develop a detailed program
proposal whereby AQMD would certify carbon emission reduction credits and
register and track any credit exchanges. The program will be based on
AQMD’s experience in tracking emission reduction credits for smog-forming
pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.
The proposal also will include a new mitigation tool to be used in the
California Environmental Quality Act process that would be available to
project proponents in the Southland.
In addition, today’s initiative directs AQMD staff to address recent
price increases in AQMD’s RECLAIM program due to third-party market
participants that purchase and hold credits. AQMD staff will develop
proposed rule changes to assure that participants in RECLAIM are better
protected from rising costs due to third-party stockpiling of available
credits.
AQMD first addressed the subject of global warming in 1990 when its Board
adopted a formal policy on global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion
aimed primarily at the phase-out of harmful gases such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Today’s initiative by Chairman Burke follows actions in 2006 and 2007 to
help accelerate emission reductions from mobile sources including
port-related activities.
In other action today, the Board swore in Louie Lujan, Mayor of La
Puente, as the newest member of the AQMD Board. Lujan will represent the
cities of eastern Los Angeles County. He will fill a newly created seat on
the AQMD Board to add one additional representative for the cities of Los
Angeles County, and he will serve a four-year term ending Jan. 15, 2012.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
-#-
|
