The South Coast Air Quality Management District's plan to allow new pollution credits would benefit a wide array of facilities. The projects are in line to receive construction permits before the end of 2007. By opening the Air District's priority reserve emission reduction credit bank to the energy industry, project proponents can obtain needed pollution credits that currently are unavailable. They would also be able to procure those credits for a price that is below the last purchase price, according to Samantha Unger, Evolution Markets environmental services broker. In addition to the Edison Mission Energy plants noted above, the district's plan could help other power plants on the drawing board, including: - The City of Vernon's 610 MW Combined Cycle Power project. The city applied to the California Energy Commission for a license to build the plant March 2. Vernon's application points to the air district's plan to open its priority reserve to power plants as a likely source of needed air pollution credits. - Los Angeles Department of Water & Power 40 MW biomass project. - AES projects?the 300 MW Grand Terrace peaker plant in San Bernardino County, and the 100 MW Alamitos Peaker plant in Long Beach. - Sound Energy Solutions' proposed LNG terminal in Long Beach. Under the district's plan, credits also would be made available to "energy project[s] of regional significance." These would include any major oil or liquefied natural gas import terminals permitted in the South Coast Air Basin by the end of 2007.
