WAIRE Program

Rule 2305: The Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program was enacted in 2021. The program aims to reduce nitrogen oxide and diesel emissions associated with warehouses, help meet federal standards and improve public health, especially in communities located near warehouses in the South Coast AQMD.

Who Must Comply?

Owners and operators of warehouses located in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) that have 100,000 square feet or more of indoor space in a single building.

Warehouse operators may be exempt from parts of the rule if they control less than 50,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space in the building.

How to Stay Compliant

Operators
WAIRE is a menu-based point system where warehouse operators need to earn a specific number of points each year. This is based on the number of trucks trips made to and from the warehouse each year, with larger trucks such as tractors or tractor-trailers multiplied by 2.5. Operators are required to submit a one-time, Initial Site Information Report (ISIR) about their operations as well as Annual WAIRE Reports.

The points are earned in three ways:

1. completing any combination of actions in the WAIRE menu
2. completing actions in an approved, site-specific custom WAIRE Plan
3. paying a mitigation fee

Owners
Warehouse owners are required to submit basic information in a Warehouse Operations Notification (WON) report about the building and their tenants. Only warehouse operators must earn WAIRE Points, but owners can opt-in if they choose and transfer points to their tenants.

Mitigation Fees and WAIRE Menu Items

• SCAQMD estimates a 250,000 sq. ft. warehouse with average traffic generates 195 points/year. Each point = $1000 in mitigation fees. An average warehouse could need to pay $195,000 plus fees each year if they do nothing​ to comply.
• An admin fee of 6.25 percent of the mitigation fee also applies and must be paid together with the mitigation fee.
• The WAIRE menu actions to offset fees include items such as installing and using EV charging stations, acquiring EV trucks, and installing and using solar power.​
• Installing a Level 2 charger could potentially offset $15,000+ in fees, Level 3 $94,000-$186,0000+ based on kW. ​

Deadlines

The WAIRE program is phased in over time based on warehouse size.

Phase 1: Warehouse size is greater or equal to 250,000 sq. ft. Initial Report due 7/1/2022. First Annual WAIRE Report due 1/31/2023.

Phase 2: Warehouse size is greater or equal to 150,000 sq. ft. but less than 250,000 sq. ft. Initial Report due 7/1/2023. First Annual WAIRE Report due 1/31/2024.

Phase 3: Warehouse size is greater or equal to 100,000 sq. ft. but less than 150,000 sq. ft. Initial Report due 7/1/2024. First Annual WAIRE Report due 1/31/2025.

Partner Energy’s team of sustainability and renewable energy professionals helps warehouse operators and owners comply with the program in the following ways:

• Preparing the WON report and submitting it to the SCAQMD
• Determining applicability of Rule requirements
• Preparing the ISIR and submitting it to the SCAQMD
• Reviewing truck trip data and estimating annual WAIRE point obligations
• Preparing annual WAIRE compliance reports based on truck trip tracking
• Evaluating eligible offsets and compliance pathways in the WAIRE menu
• Design and oversight of WAIRE compliance infrastructure solutions

Contact us today for more information about WAIRE program compliance and how Partner Energy can help.