A Comprehensive Guide to the WAIRE Program: What Warehouse Operators in Southern California Need to Know

The Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program is an initiative led by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to address and reduce emissions in the goods movement sector. Here’s an in-depth look at the WAIRE Program, its purpose, requirements, compliance obligations, and the steps warehouses need to take to participate effectively.

What is the WAIRE Program?

The WAIRE Program, governed by Rule 2305, focuses on reducing emissions from warehouse operations, particularly from trucks entering and exiting these facilities. By incentivizing warehouses to adopt cleaner technologies and practices, the WAIRE Program aims to cut down on pollutants that contribute to poor air quality, impacting both the environment and public health.

• Purpose:
  • Reduce NOx and diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions from mobile sources associated with warehouse operations
  • Assist in meeting state and federal air quality standards for ozone and fine particulate matter
  • Reduce public health impacts in communities located near warehouses

• Applicability:
• Applies to owners and operators of warehouses greater than or equal to 100,000 square feet
• Warehouses are being phased into the rule based on their size
• All applicable facilities will be fully phased in by 2025
• Warehouse operators must submit annual compliance reports

Program Structure and Applicability

The WAIRE Program requires warehouses of certain sizes to comply with emission-reduction obligations. Here’s a brief overview of the program’s phased schedule:

• Warehouse Size Requirement: Warehouses with indoor floor space dedicated to warehousing activities above a certain threshold must comply.
• Phase-In Schedule: Warehouses began compliance obligations as of 2021, with specific reporting and compliance cycles tied to square footage.

How the WAIRE Program Works

Warehouse operators earn WAIRE Points by completing various emission-reducing activities, such as adopting zero-emission equipment or installing clean energy infrastructure. These points are required to meet each warehouse’s WAIRE Points Compliance Obligation (WPCO), which is determined based on the number of truck trips a warehouse handles annually.

Counting Truck Trips

Truck trips are a critical factor in calculating a warehouse’s WAIRE Points obligation:

• A Truck Trip is defined as a one-way trip a truck makes to deliver or pick up goods. Each entry and exit counts as two trips.
• Truck classes are weighted to reflect their emissions impact, with Class 8 trucks counting 2.5 times more than smaller trucks due to their higher emissions output.

Compliance Process and Reporting Requirements

To comply, warehouses need to complete and submit several types of reports:

1. Warehouse Operations Notification (WON)

   • Applicability: For warehouse owners
   • Frequency: One-time (due September 1, 2021, with updates if significant changes occur)
   • Information Required: Warehouse details, tenant/lease data, and operational area

2. Initial Site Information Report (ISIR)

   • Applicability: For warehouse operators
   • Frequency: One-time (unless operational changes occur)
   • Information Required: Fleet data, truck trips, fueling/charging infrastructure, and planned compliance actions

3. Annual WAIRE Report (AWR)

   • Applicability: For warehouse operators
   • Frequency: Annually
   • Information Required: Annual truck trips and completed actions for WAIRE Points compliance

All reports are managed through WAIRE POP, an online portal for submissions and fee payments.

Earning WAIRE Points

WAIRE Points can be accumulated through a variety of emission-reducing activities listed in the WAIRE Menu, such as:

• Utilizing zero-emission (ZE) or near-zero-emission (NZE) yard trucks
• Installing charging or fueling infrastructure for clean vehicles
• Investing in energy generation and storage solutions

Each action is worth a specific number of points, depending on its annual impact. For example, using a zero-emission yard truck for 1,000 hours earns 291 points.

Mitigation Fee Option and Custom WAIRE Plans

Warehouse operators who cannot meet their WPCO through the standard point-earning activities have alternative options:

• Mitigation Fee: Warehouses can pay a fee as a last resort, which goes toward local emission reduction projects.
• Custom WAIRE Plan: Operators may create a tailored plan for approval that aligns with their specific operational constraints.

Banking and Transferring WAIRE Points

Operators can bank unused WAIRE Points for up to three compliance periods. Points earned in excess of requirements in one year can also be transferred to other warehouses under the same operator’s control, provided the transfer occurs in the year the points were earned.

Additional Rules and Incentives

It’s essential to understand the role of incentives and regulations within the WAIRE framework:

• Incentives: Although WAIRE doesn’t limit the use of incentives, each incentive program has its specific rules. Incentives are usually intended to reduce purchase costs of clean vehicles and equipment, although they may restrict WAIRE Point eligibility.
• Overlapping Rules: Some activities required by other rules (e.g., CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets) cannot earn WAIRE Points unless they exceed the regulatory requirements. In some cases, early compliance can qualify for WAIRE Points.

WAIRE POP Portal: Submission and Recordkeeping

All WAIRE reports are submitted through WAIRE POP:

1. Click ‘+Add a New Record’ then select your role for this location (Operator, Owner, Owner and Operator, or Land Owner)

2. When on the Warehouse Operator Location Confirmation page, search only one field of your address at a time (Address Number or Street Name) to see if your warehouse location is found in WAIRE POP

3 .If your address:

1. Appears with ‘0’ under Facility ID, select this location and email the WAIRE team at waire-program@aqmd.gov for a PIN to access the location

2. Appears with ‘*’ under Facility ID, create a new operation under this address*

3. Does not appear, click on "Don’t See Your Warehouse Location" and manually input your warehouse address

The warehouse information automatically populates if an ISIR was submitted

• Operator may update contact information
• If an operator wishes to make other changes, they will need to contact WAIRE Program Staff at waire-program@aqmd.gov  

Compliance Year and Obligation

• Select Compliance Year
• Enter total Annual Truck Trips at your facility
• WAIRE POP calculates the WAIRE Points Compliance Obligation

• • • Select and Add WAIRE Menu Item
    • Complete information for each menu item
    • Once completed, click ‘Add to Report’
    • The points ledger calculates the points earned as items are added to the report
    • The points ledger will inform you when you have satisfied the WPCO 
• Applying Banked/ Transferred Points
• WAIRE POP keeps track of banked and transferrable points
• An operator may apply banked/transferred points to meet a WPCO
• The number of WAIRE points applied will be shown in the points ledger
• Operators add facility information, submit reports, and track their WAIRE Points and obligations.
• • Recordkeeping Requirements: 

• Document the accuracy and validity of all information submitted to South Coast AQMD

  Must be maintained for at least 7 years

  Made available to South Coast AQMD upon request

  Document how WAIRE Points were earned and must be collected contemporaneously with the action itself

  All reports submitted to the South Coast AQMD must be certified by an authorized official* of the warehouse facility

Compliance Fees

Fees apply to WAIRE submissions, including:

• Mitigation Fees: These fees support local zero-emission infrastructure and projects.
• Custom WAIRE Plans: Custom plans incur an initial fee plus evaluation costs based on time and materials.

Getting Started and Additional Resources

Warehouse operators can access training videos, a user calculator, and FAQs on the WAIRE Program website. For assistance, operators can contact the WAIRE Program staff for guidance on compliance requirements, report submissions, or any unique situations.

Key Resources:

• WAIRE Program Website:  www.aqmd.gov/waire

  • Rule 2305 and Rule 316
  • Overview of the WAIRE Program
  • WAIRE Implementation Guidelines
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • WAIRE User Calculator
  • Online Training Videos
  • WAIRE POP
  HOW YMX CAN ASSIST YOU

The WAIRE Program is an impactful initiative for warehouse operators to help reduce emissions in heavily impacted areas. By having a partner that truly understands and leverages the points system, incentives, and compliance options, warehouses teams can meet regulatory requirements while investing in a cleaner future for their communities.

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