What's New List Serve Post Display

Please consider the following Air Resources Board press release
announcing the adoption of early action measures to combat
climate change.  You can review the release online at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr102507.htm .
Thank You
Dimitri Stanich
ARB/PIO


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Release 07-46
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2007
	  	  	
Leo Kay
Stanley Young
916) 322-2990 
www.arb.ca.gov

ARB approves tripling of early action measures required under AB
32

Projects would net 3 million metric tons of additional
greenhouse gas emissions

SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board today approved staff's
proposal to triple the set of early measures to help meet the
state's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions roughly 25
percent by 2020 as required by the Global Warming Solutions Act
(AB 32).

Last month, ARB staff proposed an additional set of measures,
including many that go above and beyond the narrow requirements
of the law. New measures approved today are expected to reduce
greenhouse gases from the trucking industry, greener ports,
cement and semiconductor industries, and consumer products.

"Today's Board approval marks another significant milestone in
our goal to return the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990
levels by 2020," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "Today's
measures include many common-sense, practical approaches that
will continue our forward momentum on AB32. California is
showing the country and the world that we can and will help
reverse the ominous tide of global warming."

The newly approved measures include:

    * Smartway Truck Efficiency: Requires existing trucks and
trailers to be retrofitted with devices that reduce aerodynamic
drag, thus reducing 1.3 million metric ton reductions in
greenhouse gas equivalents as well as reducing fuel consumption.
Firms such as UPS and Whole Foods have enjoyed great success with
this program at the national level with the U.S. EPA.
    * Port electrification: This measure will require docked
ships to shut off their auxiliary engines by plugging into
shoreside electrical outlets. Already offered as a NOx and
diesel PM reduction effort used at the ports of Long Beach/Los
Angeles and Oakland, this project will also reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by 500,000 metric tons every year.
    * Reduction of perfluorocarbons from the semiconductor
industry: Extremely potent greenhouse gases, PFCs are used in
the semiconductor industry to create intricate circuitry
patterns on silicon wafers and to rapidly clean semiconductor
chemical vapor chambers. Alternative chemistry development,
emissions abatement and recovery and recycling will lessen
greenhouse gas emissions by 500,000 metric tons annually.
    * Reduction of propellants in consumer products: Aerosols,
tire inflators, electronics cleaning and dust removal products
all contain propellants that contribute an estimated 300,000
metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in California every
year. Manufacturers can help by switching from HFC propellants
to others with lower climate impact.
    * Tire inflation: ARB will craft regulations requiring
tune-up, smog check and oil change mechanics to ensure proper
tire inflation as part of overall service. By ensuring that tire
pressure in cars throughout the state is maintained to
manufacturer specifications, California will see a 200,000
metric tons reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
    * Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) reductions from non-electricity
sector: ARB proposes to ban the use of SF6 from non-essential
uses if viable alternatives are available. SF6 is currently used
in manufacturing processes with aluminum, magnesium and
semiconductors, as well as a tracer for air quality and vehicle
studies. 


The new measures are projected to reduce about 3 million metric
tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Combined with the early
action measures adopted by the Board in June - a low carbon fuel
standard, restrictions in do-it-yourself air conditioner repairs
and methane capture from landfills - ARB now has measures in the
works to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 16
million metric tons.

The proposed early actions combined with other measures proposed
by the larger Climate Action Team could reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by more than 36 tons by 2020, roughly 21 percent of
the total needed to meet AB 32's goal of rolling back emissions
to 1990 levels. This lays a solid foundation for obtaining the
necessary reductions needed to meet AB 32 requirements.

ARB staff held a workshop on the new measures Sept. 17 in
Sacramento to discuss specifics and solicit additional input
from stakeholders.

Governor Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solutions Act
on Sept. 26, 2006, establishing the world's most comprehensive
greenhouse gas reduction initiative. The law requires the ARB to
implement a statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction
strategy. In addition, the Governor directed the members of the
Climate Action Team to work alongside the ARB to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from their respective jurisdictions.

The ARB proposed early actions report can be found at
www.arb.ca.gov .


The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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