I heard that this plant is buying pollution offsets.I don’t understand, does that mean Eastshore is buying the right to pollute?
The BAAQMD is responsible for attaining and maintaining ambient air quality standards by implementing an Air Quality Plan (AQP).The AQP includes a program of rules and regulations that require emission reductions from existing sources of ozone-forming emissions (precursor organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen), and allows emission increases from new or modified sources only if they provide mitigation – offsetting emission reductions in the form of emission reduction credits (ERCs). Bay Area facilities that voluntarily reduce their emissions or shutdown certain operations are allowed to bank their reductions with the BAAQMD in the form of ERCs, but only if the reductions are quantifiable, verifiable, enforceable, permanent and certified by the BAAQMD. When new or modified facilities are permitted by the BAAQMD, they are required to purchase and/or surrender an amount of ERCs equivalent to 15% more than their maximum permitted emissions. In this way the BAAQMD is able to continue to r
