Dallas Air Quality Resolution

WHEREAS, the Dallas-Fort Worth Region has been in continual violation of the federal Clean Air Act standard for ozone since 1991 and the region has until July 20, 2018 to meet the ozone air quality standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb); and,

WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially stated that the latest air quality State Implementation Plan (SIP) proposed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is not adequate to address the ozone concentrations “without additional reductions” in ozone-forming pollution and that the proposed SIP is using “unrealistic” modeling projections; and,

WHEREAS, studies have shown a direct correlation between health issues, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and higher levels of ozone; and,

WHEREAS, the economic success of the D-FW Region is closely tied to the environmental quality and living conditions of the area; and,

WHEREAS, the proposed SIP fails to adequately address emissions from stationary sources such as cement kilns, coal-fired power plants, and compressors and otherequipment related to the Barnett Shale gas production area; and,

WHEREAS, independent studies have concluded that reductions of nitrogen oxides from stationary sources such as cement kilns and coal-fired power plants outside the DFW region, and reductions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from compressor emissions in the Barnett Shale gas production areas, can reduce ozone levels in the DFWRegion. Such control measures as Selective Catalyst Reduction at kilns and coal

plants and electrification of compressors would help the region meet or exceed thecurrent ozone standard of 75 ppb at all North Texas air monitors; and,

WHEREAS, ozone can be reduced by the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and co-generation which can be elements of a distributed energy district; and,

WHEREAS, the State of Texas could increase its support of the renewable energy sector through net-metering requirements and distributed energy districts.

Now, Therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DALLAS:

SECTION 1. The City of Dallas concurs with the EPA’s comments on the proposed SIP and requests that the TCEQ revise the proposed SIP to add additional measures to the clean air plan that will reduce ozone levels at an accelerated rate;

SECTION 2. The City of Dallas requests the TCEQ reduce emissions from stationary sources in Texas to reduce transport of these emissions to the D-FW Region to reduce ozone levels in this region;

SECTION 3. The City of Dallas requests the TCEQ and the EPA have a cooperative dialogue with the City of Dallas to develop practical and effective solutions at the local, state, and federal level to reduce ozone levels in the D-FW Region;

SECTION 4. The City of Dallas encourages state agencies to explore changes promoting net-metering and the creation of distributed energy districts and the creation of additional programs to expand the use of solar power and other renewable energy sources in the state;

SECTION 5. The City of Dallas supports the EPA’s Clean Power Plan because implementation of this plan could help decrease ozone levels in Dallas and encourages the State of Texas to reverse its position and support the Clean Power Plan.