Bush Recognizes Aluminum Industry for Emissions Reduction and Climate Change Voluntary Achievement, According to The Aluminum Association.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2002

President Bush yesterday recognized 12 companies in the aluminum industry for meeting their 2000 goal to reduce PFC emissions from U.S. primary aluminum smelting by 45% - equivalent to 1.8 million metric tons of carbon - using cost-effective approaches that make economic and environmental sense for the partners.

The Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership committed to make reductions in two potent PFCs, tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and hexafluoroethane (C2F6).

"The aluminum industry has aggressively reduced PFC emissions over the decade, and we are delighted that President Bush has recognized the aluminum companies' cooperative achievement," said J. Stephen Larkin, president of The Aluminum Association. "We believe that the cooperative efforts of EPA such as through the VAIP program will lead to the achievement of environmental goals with continued economic growth," Larkin said.

In his announcement President Bush said, "addressing global climate change will require a sustained effort, over many generations. My approach recognizes that sustained economic growth is the solution, not the problem - because a nation that grows its economy is a nation that can afford investments in efficiency, new technologies, and a cleaner environment."

"The President has challenged American businesses to make specific commitments to improving the greenhouse gas intensity of their operations and to reduce emissions. Recent agreements with the semi-conductor and aluminum industries and industries that emit methane already have significantly reduced emissions of some of the most potent greenhouse gases. We will build upon these successes with new agreements, producing greater reductions," the report said.

The President's report recognizes twelve of the thirteen U.S. primary aluminum producers, representing 96 percent of the U.S. primary aluminum production capacity, as having joined EPA's Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership.

Companies participating in this program were Alcan, Alcoa, Alumax (now part of Alcoa), Century, Columbia Falls, Goldendale, Kaiser, Noranda, Northwest, NSA (now part of Century), Reynolds Metals (now part of Alcoa), and Vanalco.

"Our approach recognizes that sustained economic growth is an essential part of the solution, not the problem. Economic growth will make possible the needed investment in research, development, and deployment of advanced technologies. This strategy is one that should offer developing countries the incentive and means to join with us in tackling this challenge together," the report said.

The Aluminum Association, based in Washington DC, with offices in Detroit, MI, represents U.S. and foreign-based primary producers of aluminum, as well as recyclers, and producers of semi-fabricated products, and suppliers. Member companies operate almost 200 plants in the United States and many conduct business worldwide.