February 7, 2007   

Conflicting Local Ordinances Threaten Clean Air Efforts and Jobs

The City of Houston is considering an ordinance that will interfere with ongoing efforts to improve Texas air quality and threaten thousands of jobs, according to a joint statement from the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Texas Association of Business. 

“Current programs have dramatically improved air quality in Houston and beyond in the last 15 years,” said Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business. “The City of Houston’s proposed ordinance will derail progress by interfering with successful statewide efforts to reduce air emissions. Arbitrary ordinances like this one threaten local economies and jobs.”

“Local officials, state regulators and Texas employers have worked diligently to achieve the goals of the federal and state clean air acts,” said Robert Howden, spokesman for the Texas Association of Manufacturers. “Manufacturers are committed to existing regulations that have resulted and continue to result in cleaner air.”

Houston has achieved an 80 percent reduction in Volatile Organic Compounds in the last 15 years, according to the Houston Regional Monitoring Network, an organization that monitors Houston’s air quality.

“Conflicting ordinances like this one threaten the effective enforcement of state and federal standards that are producing remarkable results to improve air quality,” said Hammond.

Contact: Gretchen Fox, 512-694-4326