🚛 Warehouses and Air Pollution
The EPA has introduced a game-changing rule that makes warehouses responsible for the truck pollution they generate. The new rule applies to facilities with more than 100,000 square feet of indoor space. Previously, tailpipe emissions from trucks entering and leaving warehouses were not directly regulated. However, these trucks contribute significantly to nitrogen dioxide pollution, a key component of smog. A nationwide study revealed that neighborhoods downwind of warehouses saw a 20% increase in nitrogen dioxide compared to upwind areas. The rule, originating in Southern California, could now inspire other states.
🏢 The Warehouse Indirect Source Rule
The Warehouse Indirect Source Rule (ISR) was first adopted in Southern California in 2021. By 2025, it will apply to warehouses across the region. Under this system, warehouses earn points by reducing pollution through initiatives like electrifying truck fleets or installing EV charging stations. Alternatively, they can pay fees. Already, 815 zero-emission trucks and 172 charging stations have been introduced because of the rule. However, most warehouses still lag behind; 1,400 of the 2,000 facilities are not complying, according to a local report.
🌎 Impacts on Disadvantaged Communities
Communities near warehouses, especially those with more residents of color, bear the brunt of the pollution. In neighborhoods with many warehouses, the proportion of Asian and Hispanic residents is 290% and 240% higher than the national average, respectively. Taylor Thomas from East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice said, "Poor communities carry the burden of being exposed to increased pollution, not seeing high-paying jobs, and having whole blocks of homes swallowed up to place mega warehouses in our backyards.”
📋 New York and Beyond
The EPA’s approval of Southern California’s rule could have ripple effects across the U.S. In New York, advocacy groups are pushing for a similar law, the Clean Deliveries Act, which would regulate truck emissions near warehouses. This bill passed the State Senate in June and is now awaiting a vote in the Assembly. According to the ElectrifyNY coalition, "At least one in four New Yorkers live within half a mile of a mega e-commerce warehouse that generates hundreds or thousands of daily truck trips." This could be the beginning of a national movement to hold warehouses accountable for pollution.
How should warehouses handle their pollution responsibilities?
