San Bernardino, CA – The Golden State leads the nation in grappling with the very real issues of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. As a leading planning, sciences, engineering, and construction management firm in California, PBS&J routinely brings its greenhouse gas emissions reduction and sustainability expertise to its clients and projects.
PBS&J is strengthening this expertise with new team member, Michael Hendrix. Hendrix recently joined the firm as the air quality and climate change team leader with PBS&J’s California and Southwest Science and Planning Division.
In particular, Hendrix will advise on issues surrounding the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32), which requires state greenhouse gas emissions to be rolled back to 1990 levels by the year 2020—roughly a 25 percent reduction from 2006 levels.
Hendrix is an authority on solving technical challenges related to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, health risks, and acoustics. "Mike will help California cities cope with the increasingly urgent need to get out in front of climate change issues that are negatively impacting the state," said William S. Ziebron, PBS&J’s California state director. "He’ll be advising cities on how to measure their greenhouse gas emissions and will help resolve other air quality issues impacting the general plans of several cities, including San Bernardino."
Hendrix has come up with innovative, cost-effective ways to cut air toxics and greenhouse gas emissions. In recognition of his efforts, the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) awarded Hendrix the "Professional Achievement Award" for innovative Air Quality Mitigation Programs in 2007.
Specifically, AEP recognized that "his commitment to balancing the need for industrial, commercial, and residential development projects in the state with the reduction of air pollution is evident through his dedication to air quality evaluations and mitigation that significantly reduce air pollution generated by the expansion of these markets."
Hendrix holds leadership roles with the:
- California Air Resources Board, Land Use Subcommittee, Climate Action Team.
- South Coast Air Quality Management District Greenhouse Gas Significance Thresholds Stakeholder Working Group, which deals with greenhouse gas emissions inventorying.
- California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research SB 97 Working Group, which is developing guidelines intended to help state and local agencies meet greenhouse gas emission standards to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Hendrix has supervised many technical studies on air quality, global climate change, health risk, and acoustical issues, many in support of CEQA. In his work with AEP, Hendrix has led or participated in study groups seeking to define the treatment of greenhouse gas emissions in CEQA analysis. His paper, "Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change Impact Analysis in CEQA Documents," is widely recognized as the AEP White Paper on greenhouse gas emissions.
Hendrix also participated in a CNN-International roundtable debate over greenhouse gas reduction and climate change impacts, which was televised in November 2008.
Hendrix earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of California, Riverside.
He can be reached in PBS&J’s San Bernardino, California, office by phone at 909.890.5951 or by e-mail at mkhendrix@pbsj.com.