Airports, Aviation Industry Stall Bill to Address Growing Climate Pollution Problem
Airports, Aviation Industry Stall Bill to Address Growing Climate Pollution Problem
State Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) was forced to delay SB 720 by the Assembly Natural Resources on Monday. This first-of-its-kind bill addresses spiking aviation sector climate pollution, and faces intense opposition from airports and the airline industry they serve. The bill requires airports in the most heavily-polluted low income communities in the state to disclose to the California Air Resources Board greenhouse gas emissions resulting from their operations.
SB 720 was voted down once in Assembly Transportation Committee, where the chair and numerous committee members have airports in their districts. Lobbyists for the industry trade groups representing airports and airlines were then able to narrow the reporting provisions in the bill before it was held in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, likely until next year.
Airports like Van Nuys and San Jose emerged from the pandemic as super-hubs for private jet travelers from Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Private jets produce 5 to 14 times more pollution per passenger than commercial planes and 50 times more pollution than high speed rail trains. The average private jet burns around 5,000 gallons of fuel per hour, the equivalent of about 400 passenger cars in the same time. During the pandemic, the use of private jets doubled and now private jet flights account for approximately a quarter of all flights taken (source: WINGX).
“This bill was a basic reporting bill. We now have to assess whether a bolder, more comprehensive approach is necessary. Meanwhile, I look forward to the Air Board’s push for real change in this sector,” said Stern.
The California Air Resources Board has heretofore allowed airlines to receive carbon credits for the sustainable aviation fuels the use, with no proof they’re actually reducing emissions in state. Now, CARB, where Stern sits as the Senate appointee, is considering tighter strictures on these advanced aviation biofuels and the industry they fuel in the upcoming Low Carbon Fuel Standard update.
“We need to be careful not to blindly subsidize greener air travel without verifying that we’re seeing real leadership from airports and the airlines,” Stern said. “It wouldn’t be fair to allow the jet set any green self-satisfaction while polluting the hardest hit communities in California.”
“This opulent industry is on the rise and its impacts on both air quality and the climate crisis are only growing. The affluent who can afford these flights do not live in disadvantaged communities, but they leave their pollution for community members there to breathe,” said NRDC Advocate, Kiki Velez. “This bill will begin to address air and climate emissions from aviation, starting with the most damaging flights.”
Bill Magavern, Policy Director for Coalition for Clean Air said, “We applaud Senator’s Stern’s effort to address aviation emissions that are causing health and climate impacts in our disadvantaged communities. As we continue to urge the Assembly to pass SB 720, we are also asking the Air Resources Board to update its Low Carbon Fuel Standard this year in a way that holds airports and airlines accountable.”
SB720 focuses on the massive increase in private jet travel, and correspondent local and global pollution increases. The average jet burns approximately 5,000 gallons of fuel per hour, the equivalent of about 400 passenger cars in the same amount of time. By requiring California airports with over 50,000 annual takeoffs from private jets that are in the most polluted regions of the state, this legislation looks to create opportunities to mitigate pollution in environmental justice communities through new types of quieter, safer, zero emissions aviation options emerging such as sustainable aviation fuels and electrified takeoff.
SB720 FACT SHEET ATTACHED
LINK TO ASM TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HEARING HERE AT 3:17:00