Energy & Env. Committee
ABA Top Issues


About the Energy & Environment Committee

The Committee meets three times a year, focusing on topics such as air, water, waste, energy costs and management systems. These meetings keep the Committee’s agenda ahead of government actions and facilitate business planning.

The Committee directs its attention to the energy and environmental regulations and legislation directly related to the costs of bakery operations. The majority of the Committee’s time is spent engaged in a dialogue with Congress, federal and state agencies about bills and proposed regulations. The group has been very influential in bringing about changes to potentially costly government initiatives.

Energy & Environment Committee Contacts

Rasma Zvaners, - ABA Staff Liaison
ABA Policy Director

Jerry F. Hancock, II - Committee Co-Chairman
Vice President of Environmental & Regulatory Affairs, Flowers Foods, Inc.

Jim McKeown - Committee Co-Chairman
Director of Environmental & Energy Affairs, Bimbo Bakeries USA

 


Climate Change
While bakers are not be subject to the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA) of 2009’s cap and trade program.  Bakers will be affected by the indirect costs associated with either legislation or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG):
  • Increased energy costs and possible loss of croplands
  • Increased transportation costs  
  • If regulatory applicability trigger levels are low, per the Clean Air Act, bakers could be subject to significant new administrative and regulatory burdens. 
The ABA supports pragmatic solutions that incentivize voluntary reductions in energy use and GHG output through offsets and grant programs for innovation and capital investment.
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