May 22

Industrial facilities and many businesses in the San Francisco Bay area soon will pay a fee for emissions of greenhouse gases.

It marks the first time in the United States that businesses will be required to pay regulators for greenhouse gas emissions.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District´s Board of Directors approved the fee during a May 21 meeting. It will apply to all businesses and facilities that are required to obtain an air quality permit. Businesses will be charged 4.4 cents per metric ton of greenhouse gas emissions.

"The inclusion of greenhouse gas fees is a new tool that we expect other air districts will also adopt to help fund their mandated climate protection activities," said Jack Broadbent, air district executive director.

The district expects to collect about $1.3 million in annual fees that it will use to pay the costs of climate protection activities. Oil refineries, power plants and large industrial facilities will pay the bulk of the $1.3 million, according to the district. Most other facilities will be assessed $1 or less per year, the district said.

Contact Waste News reporter Bruce Geiselman at (330) 865-6172 or bgeiselman@crain.com

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