Our Environment - Key to Our Future

By Kevin Biggers

We have some of the most beautiful coastline in California. We also have some of the most polluted areas in Southern California. We need to protect our environment and make it better for future generations.

As your next State Senator, I will push for businesses to incorporate green technologies into their operations. Providing state tax credits for businesses owning and operating buildings that are LEED certified is one such idea. Buildings with the LEED certification recycle water, use solar power and use green building products such as carpet made from recycled tires. This program is a great start in recognizing companies that make the investment in green buildings. The state needs to take it a step further by rewarding companies that utilize sustainable/renewable technologies.

I would not stop at the corporate level. I believe we need to assist homeowners in our district by providing them with tax credits for the steps they take to make their homes more environmentally friendly. We already have technologies to expand solar and wind power to the residential level. We now need the political will to make these technologies available to more of our citizens. An obvious benefit of this effort is a reduction of our dependence upon fossil fuels and foreign oil. As the price of a barrel of oil goes up over $120, our need to move beyond fossil fuel based technologies has come. We need someone in Sacramento who will take environmental issues seriously and help us move away from the modes and machinery of our grandfathers.

I am a committed recycler. As a young boy, I collected bottles and cans for recycling and I still do today. Along with my son John and daughter Zoe, I take the material to the recycling center. It is a great way to teach children about how each family impacts the environment and how each one of us, if we do our part, can make a big difference. I also do home composting and use the compost throughout my garden to grow beautiful vegetables and flowers. Today, I have over 8 different varieties of vegetables growing in my garden. I believe we need to encourage recycling, composting and gardening.

The port of Los Angeles lies in the 25th district and is the single largest air polluter in Los Angeles County. Container ships burning low quality bunker fuel idle dockside because most have no capability to connect to shore-generated electricity. Diesel-powered semi-trailer trucks and locomotives idle while waiting to be loaded and unloaded. The local air quality regulatory agency did a study that found that air pollution from the port is responsible for 2,000 cases of cancer per million people versus 25 per million upper limit sought by air quality regulators. The 47 tons of nitrogen oxides generated daily by port marine vessels nearly equals the amount emitted by the 350 largest factories and refineries in the Los Angeles region. That number is expected to increase 70% by 2022.

A $2.8 million Port of Los Angeles Clean Air Program (POLACAP) initiative first implemented by the L.A. Board of Harbor Commissioners in October 2002 seeks to reduce polluting emissions from vessels and cargo handling equipment. To accelerate the process of emission reductions through the use of new and cleaner-burning equipment, the Port has allocated more than $52 million in additional funding for the POLACAP through 2008. I believe the program's funding should be extended beyond 2008 to ensure its success.

State Senator Alan Lowenthal has tried to address the pollution at the ports. I support his efforts, particularly SB 974, which if passed, will impose fees on all container cargo going in and out of the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland. The revenue from those fees will fund projects that will alleviate pollution from moving containerized cargo to and from these ports by improving the way the cargo is moved in California. I also support efforts to have the container ships connect to shore-generated electricity (Cold Ironing) to reduce the pollution generated as the ships are docked in port. We need to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce pollution at the ports. If we do not address the pollution problem now, we are facing massive class action litigation that will cost a great deal more in the long run.

I am an environmentally conscious candidate running in the 25th district. I drive a hybrid vehicle, recycle at home and at one time served on a resource conservation district. I believe strongly in conservation. As your State Senator, I will actively back programs that encourage our residents to reduce, recycle and reuse.