Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

SoCal air plan would reduce some smog emissions by 20 percent (in 5 years)
Bakersfield Californian ^ | 1/7/05 | Chris T. Nyugen - AP

Posted on 01/07/2005 7:34:51 PM PST by NormsRevenge

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Southern California clean air regulators adopted a plan Friday to reduce emissions at about 300 power plants, factories and refineries by 20 percent over five years.

The plan, which takes effect beginning 2007, amends a program started 10 years ago by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and seeks to reduce smog-causing emissions by a total of 7.7 tons per day over the five-year period.

"We believe the changes meet state law requirements and maintain the integrity of the program, while continuing to move closer to the region's air quality goals," Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the AQMD, said in a statement.

The district, which covers Orange County and parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, has the worst air quality in the nation.

The emissions reduction program that started in 1994 allows major polluters in the region to buy credits for a certain amount of air pollution they release. It was intended to provide a financial incentive to cut emissions, since it costs more money to pollute the air.

The district's new proposals would reduce emissions by making fewer credits available, forcing plants and refineries to implement pollution control measures, said AQMD spokesman Sam Atwood.

Julie Masters, senior project attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said she was pleased with the decision that would help bring emissions up to state and federal standards.

"We're very happy that the district did not give in to industry pressure, but we would have liked to see them go a little further," she said.

The new regulations, however, would be a financial burden for industries, said Peter Hidalgo, spokesman the Southern California Gas Co.

"We clearly accept the need to help emissions reduction in the region and achieve clean air, but the challenge is the cost to reach the new levels," he said. "We want to find less costly ways to reach the same amount of emissions reductions."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: airpollution; aqmd; california; emisions; emissions; environment; nrdc; reduce; smog; socal
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

1 posted on 01/07/2005 7:34:52 PM PST by NormsRevenge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: farmfriend

fyi


2 posted on 01/07/2005 7:35:11 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... The War on Terrorism is the ultimate 'faith-based' initiative.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Why? The air in LA is getting better.


3 posted on 01/07/2005 7:40:57 PM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

wow. 7.7 tons a day out of the air.

It doesn't look like there is that much stuff in the air.

Smog can get pretty nasty in the right atmospheric conditions and certain locations .. Mexico City comes to mind.


4 posted on 01/07/2005 7:43:16 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... The War on Terrorism is the ultimate 'faith-based' initiative.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RKV

That's what I thought too.

It's GReenism. ;-) lol


5 posted on 01/07/2005 7:44:03 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... The War on Terrorism is the ultimate 'faith-based' initiative.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Here are the stats through 2001. This level of effort is not cost justified. http://www.ocalmanac.com/Environment/ev01.htm


6 posted on 01/07/2005 7:44:21 PM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: RKV

I can see the writing in the wall, More jobs going out of the country and definately out of california.


7 posted on 01/07/2005 7:46:59 PM PST by 1FASTGLOCK45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: RKV
Because those credits are a form of fiat money.

Someone just legislated themself a fortune.

8 posted on 01/07/2005 7:47:58 PM PST by patton (+)(+)(+)(+)(+)(+)CHUNK!D@MMMMMIT!(+)(+)(+)(+)(+)(+)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: patton

CORRECTIMUNDO.


9 posted on 01/07/2005 7:49:46 PM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 1FASTGLOCK45

I worked for a company that sent 400 manufacturing jobs to Texas because of the AQMD and its irrational policies. People that had worked at the plant for over 20 years got the ax. Just plain nuts.


10 posted on 01/07/2005 7:51:46 PM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: RKV

Ditto here. I lost my job because of the same reason. it was too $ to operate in california. I got a better job now though :)


11 posted on 01/07/2005 7:53:28 PM PST by 1FASTGLOCK45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: 1FASTGLOCK45

Glad to hear you landed on your feet. I am one of the few who is unwilling to give up on California. Its a tough fight, but I seem to be able to convince a few people every month. You get some interesting conversations until you share a few facts - like what happens to jobs when the enviro costs go too high. I voted for Reagan for governor in my first election and hope that we can turn the place around yet.


12 posted on 01/07/2005 7:58:13 PM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge
Regrettably, the foremost problem in California is smut, not soot! At some point the expense and energy consumed to clean up the already incredibly reduced emissions brings diminishing returns and little or no benefit.

What is the breakdown of currant emissions? Are they mostly harmless carbon particulate, less than a bicycle stirs up with a spandex clad rider?

What would happen if smut regulations were enforced? Would it be safe for children to breathe again? Now, that is the question.
13 posted on 01/07/2005 8:00:21 PM PST by captain anode
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: RKV

Me too. I get to talking with the liberals and they whine and cry. I ask them what the problem is, they blame bush for the local economy. Then i strike, telling them the facts that local jobs have nothing to do with Bush and they sit there dazed like a nuclear bomb hit them. Then they go, Your right. I managed to convice a couple people to vote for Bush in 04 :) Some will never admit that they voted for him though.


14 posted on 01/07/2005 8:07:45 PM PST by 1FASTGLOCK45
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

"The emissions reduction program that started in 1994 allows major polluters in the region to buy credits for a certain amount of air pollution they release. It was intended to provide a financial incentive to cut emissions, since it costs more money to pollute the air. "

Can anyone say Kyoto? Same type of thing.


15 posted on 01/07/2005 8:24:19 PM PST by JSteff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

If the morons would just reduce the red tape to build new more efficent, cleaner burning plants the old plants would get shut down due to attrition. Can't do that, none of the lawyers in government would get rich that way.


16 posted on 01/07/2005 8:31:26 PM PST by John Lenin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Lenin

The dirty little secret of enviro regs is the best available current technology ploy. We could do better than now, if the regs didn't push you to the edge of the technology. Parts per thousand is cheaper than parts per million which is cheaper than part per billion. Require new plants to improve things, not to set the state of the art. Then conditions will improve. You wouldn't learn to run marathons by starting at 26 miles. You work your way up to it.


17 posted on 01/07/2005 8:44:26 PM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: RKV
It made me sick to find out that there were so many plants shut down due to enviro regs during the energy crisis. It was a setup by the boneheads in government to score big bucks for local utilities.
18 posted on 01/07/2005 8:51:47 PM PST by John Lenin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: RKV
It was interesting how a few of those plants shut down coincidently at the same time. It is also interesting how great pressure and persuasion was leveraged by the Clinton administration to set up the market to buy power. They all remain faceless today, but somebody made tons of money.
19 posted on 01/07/2005 9:22:21 PM PST by captain anode
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: captain anode

We don't call it KOMMIEFORNIA for no reason. Here is a perfect example.


20 posted on 01/07/2005 10:09:18 PM PST by longun45 (There is no difference between a republocrat and a demican)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson