Clean Fuel News

Louisiana DEQ chief doesn't see roll back in air quality standards under Trump

Originally posted by Steve Hardy | Jan. 20, 2017 | The Advocate | Original Article

State environmental officials say they don't expect to roll back certain air quality regulations under the Donald Trump administration.

The issue arose during a meeting this week of Louisiana Clean Fuels, a nonprofit associated with the U.S. Department of Energy that promotes alternative fuel vehicles, hybrids and other technology to improve air quality.

Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Chuck Carr Brown went to the group's meeting to talk about the billions of dollars Volkswagen is having to pay in settlements connected to its emissions-rigging scandal. Louisiana will receive a portion of the money.

At the meeting, Louisiana Clean Fuels President Randy Hayden asked the DEQ secretary what he sees happening with environmental regulations under the new president's administration.

In the Baton Rouge area, controlling ozone pollution has been a concern for years. The region finally came into compliance a few months ago, although standards are set to tighten again later this year.

Brown told the crowd at the clean fuel meeting that when Baton Rouge reached attainment in November, it signaled that locals were breathing the freshest air since the industrial revolution. Any effort to reverse the current trend would be like trying to pull the brake on a moving train, he said, a long, difficult process.

"I don't see us rolling back any standards. ... I don't see us being less stringent," he said in an interview afterward.

There are at least two factors working to prevent the loosening of standards. First, the Clean Air Act includes what are known as "anti-backsliding" provisions, said Vivian Aucoin, senior scientist with the LDEQ's air permits division.

"When you put in controls for emission you never reverse that. ... I'm not giving up something I worked for," she said.

So, for example, there will still be incentives for plants that run on fossil fuels to burn natural gas which generates lower emissions than other fossil fuels.

Further, Aucoin said, individual facilities have no reason to undo expensive upgrades aimed at controlling emissions.

"The main point to say is, don't panic. (Trump) can't undo what's already done," Aucoin said.

Hayden said was pleased the DEQ secretary highlighted the region's historically clean air at this week's meeting.

He credited the last presidential turnover — in a roundabout way — with helping improve air quality.

When Barack Obama was elected, there were concerns his administration would impose heavier fines on emissions, spurring industry to act, Hayden said.

"I think that that was a very real fear. ... In anticipation of that, I think a lot of our companies started doing better," he said.

As for the Volkswagen settlement, the state stands to receive $18 million, which can be spent on a variety of projects. Brown expressed specific interest in buying low-emission school buses and city buses. Nationally, Volkswagen is also funding the Electrify America program which aims to install electric charging stations for private vehicles.