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AB 262, proposed by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, requires an environmental project declaration for state construction projects. In their bids, contractors will have to disclose the greenhouse gas emissions of materials they plan to use.
The declaration is similar to a food label and showcases the impacts of manufacturing a product environmentally, according to Buy Clean California.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill Oct. 16. In a letter released afterward, he encouraged companies and legislators to continue looking at climate change seriously, encouraging more steps taken to make California more environmentally conscious. These statements were released in the letter following Gov. Brown’s signing.
"The goal of this bill is laudable and consistent with our efforts to address climate change," Brown wrote.
The bill will take effect in 2019. It affects state agencies and the University of California and California State Universities including Chico State.
Along with stating gas emissions in an Environmental Product Declaration, this new law also requires the state of California to buy products from environmentally clean distributors.
Products included in AB-262 include steel, concrete, asphalt, flat glass, manufacture wool, aluminum, brass and iron. Sustainable products in these categories include structured steel, carbon steel rebar, flat glass and mineral wool board insulation.
“AB 262 will strengthen California’s climate leadership and make California the first state to align its public infrastructure expenditures with environmental goals. This bill rewards companies that have invested in clean technologies to reduce their carbon footprint,” Bonta said in a press release.
“AB 262 will strengthen California’s climate leadership and make California the first state to align its public infrastructure expenditures with environmental goals. This bill rewards companies that have invested in clean technologies to reduce their carbon footprint,” Bonta said in a press release.
Manufacturing makes up 22 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, with California being the sixth largest economy in the world, according to Buy Clean California. They hope that this bill will address issues that will continue to change the way the U.S. looks at climate change and sustainability.
Supporters of the bill included over 30 organizations, including nonprofit groups.
According to the Sierra Club, a number of companies opposed the bill including Cemex Inc., CalPortland and Lehigh Southwest Cement Company. All three of these businesses are cement related. Steven Regis, vice president for CalPortland Corporate Services, said his company no longer opposes the bill.
“We actually withdrew our opposition to AB 262 after some changes were made to the bill in June. We believe this bill is well-intended and we maintain that an environmental product declaration is a tool intended to be used as part of a life-cycle analysis,” Regis said.
“An EPD looks at cradle-to-gate emissions and ignores the emissions and energy efficiency over the life of the structure,” he explained.
“That's what the LCA does. More energy is consumed over the use phase of a structure than in its construction. The EPD doesn't even account for the transportation from the plant gate to the construction site.”
Matthew Lewis, communications director of Buy Clean California said he hopes this law will influence industries around the world to invest in cleaner technologies.
"By passing the Buy Clean Act, California has shown once again that it intends to be the world leader in addressing the urgent challenge of climate change,” said Lewis.
According to BlueGreen Alliance, California spends $10 billion annually on projects such as roads, bridges and state facilities.
This bill is proposed to affect greenhouse emissions by making companies reduce their emissions to stay competitive in the California market. By forcing buyers to reveal carbon emissions, the new law obliges companies to buy sustainably as well.
According to the Sierra Club, this proposal will not increase the costs of infrastructure construction and will not negatively impact California steel or cement industries.
-- By Kendall George