San Antonio Leaders Propose Action, Clean Air Strategies to Avoid Non-Attainment
San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) July 18, 2013 -- Stakeholders across multiple disciplines met on July 11 to raise awareness of air quality concerns as the Alamo City edges closer to EPA “non-attainment” with increased ground level ozone levels (a.k.a. “smog”) from an economic boom in one of the fastest-growing metro areas.
Held at Rackspace’s global headquarters, the Keeping It Clean: Our Air, Our Health forum was the inaugural event for the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum in a region-wide effort to catalyze community education, informed discussions, and aggressive action to counteract the ever-growing ground-level ozone problem.
“We welcome this as an opportunity to showcase our region in promoting economic development that sustains the beautiful ecology that makes San Antonio a world-class destination,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. “Instead of focusing the blame on migrating pollution from other states and countries, we wanted to be proactive in doing all we can at the metro level.”
San Antonio has long prided itself as the last major metropolitan area in the U.S. to maintain compliance with federal air quality standards. That distinction was threatened in 2012, when the three-year average ground-level ozone reached 80 parts per billion (ppb), exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb).
Violating clean air standards can result in costly compliance requirements, loss of federal highway funding, increased fuel prices and mandatory emissions offsetting. Additionally, economic development can take a hit as companies seek markets that are in attainment to avoid regulatory costs. Another concern discussed at the forum was the EPA’s announcement that it could soon lower the existing standard from 75 to 70 ppb. Along with concerns about potential impacts from the Eagle Ford Shale on regional ground-level ozone, the event engaged the breadth of challenges facing San Antonio.
"This presents a great challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to pool our ingenuity to develop technical, policy and business solutions that give our economy and transportation infrastructure an edge," said Mike Burke, chair and founder of the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum, which organized the event with nonprofit Mission Verde Alliance.
Ozone forms when oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) mix and are altered through a chemical reaction caused by sunlight. Ground-level ozone exacerbates respiratory illnesses, while Rice University has reported a correlation between Houston-area heart attacks and ozone exposure.
In the San Antonio-New Braunfels region, motor vehicles are the greatest source of ozone precursors. They accounted for 46.8 percent NOx and 35.2 percent of VOC levels in 2013. According to the European Respiratory Journal, scientists have proven that 14% of chronic childhood asthma is attributed to near-road traffic pollution.
"Transportation plays a key role in whatever we do, so we must promote greater access to mass transit, alternative and cleaner fuels, and electric vehicle charging networks," Judge Wolff said.
Electricity generation accounted for 42.9 percent of NOx, while industry and manufacturing played a role in NOx and VOCs. CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned utility in the U.S., has taken a proactive stance in reducing its NOx and carbon emissions by investing heavily in clean power generation from natural gas, solar and wind.
Last year, CPS Energy reduced its nitrogen oxides emissions 23 percent, sulfur dioxide by 55 percent and total suspended particulates by 19 percent. Through all of its strategies CPS Energy is on track to reduce its carbon emissions by 5.3 million tons by 2020, a 29 percent decrease since 2011.
"Our strategy of diversification and risk reduction has made CPS Energy a leader in emissions reductions," said CEO Doyle Beneby. "We are committed to continuing those reductions, to make sure San Antonio remains in compliance with clean air standards – and because it’s what our customers expect from us."
Visit the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum at http://www.sacleantech.org to learn more about the concerns and opportunities posed by increased ground-level ozone in the San Antonio region.
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About San Antonio Clean Technology Forum
The Forum conducts education and information sharing through alliances and partnerships with other entities seeking to support and accelerate initiatives to reduce energy consumption, create financial savings, promote clean technology, and improve the environment while advancing economic development of the San Antonio region. In collaboration with partners and alliances, it seeks to contribute knowledge to key policy makers in government, education and industry to facilitate positive change in the South Texas region.
About Mission Verde Alliance
The Alliance serves as a catalyst for the development and the use of clean technologies for a sustainable economy for the San Antonio region through advocacy, education, and outreach.
Robert Crowe, esd and associates, http://esdandassociates.com, 210-348-8008, [email protected]
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