South Coast AQMD Emission Reduction Credits
The district's public ERC registry, 760 banked certificates, mirrored and searchable on the Exchange. On the Exchange
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Currently sourcing in this district
Posted by the Exchange on the wanted board. Responses go to the Exchange desk, privately.
Need South Coast AQMD credits for an air permit?
Tell the desk the pollutant, the tons per year and the permit date. You get a written supply check: the register certificates that look like candidates (each one pending the district's eligibility review for your project), whether their holders have confirmed availability, the last recorded prices in the district's own units, the transfer steps and fee, and how payment and transfer timing are set (by the written transaction agreement between buyer and seller; the Exchange never holds funds). No fee for the check, and your request is not published.
Banked ERC certificates of record, 760 across 359 holders
From the district's public registry (ERC & STERC Active List, September 2026 (lb/day; STERCs excluded)). Register edition retrieved 2026-10-21, last checked 2026-10-21; every certificate is mirrored, with its own page. These are banked credits, the registry shows what exists, not what the holder has committed to sell. Open the interactive registry to search, view pollutant breakdowns, and send an inquiry.
| Holder of record | Certificate(s) | Source / pollutants banked |
|---|---|---|
| Plains Marketing, L.P. | 30 certificates (AQ015182 … AQ016022) | Facility: Long Beach · NOx 185 · ROG 434 · PM10 9 · SOx 183 (lb/day) |
| Tesoro Refining & Marketing Co, LLC | 24 certificates (AQ012942 … AQ015954) | Facility: Carson, Wilmington · NOx 12 · ROG 158 · PM10 149 · SOx 1 · CO 90 (lb/day) |
| Southern California Edison Co | 23 certificates (AQ001192 … AQ001309) | Facility: Anza, Baldwin Park, Corona, El Monte, Grand Terrace, Lakeview, Nuevo, Rialto, Riverside, Romoland, San Jacinto, Upland · NOx 4 · SOx 27 · CO 117 (lb/day) |
| Phillips 66 Co/LA Refinery Wilmington PL | 18 certificates (AQ012380 … AQ015174) | Facility: Wilmington · ROG 361 (lb/day) |
| Ultramar Inc | 17 certificates (AQ001325 … AQ014535) | Facility: Carson, El Segundo, Long Beach, Wilmington · ROG 135 · PM10 40 · CO 216 (lb/day) |
| So Cal Edison Co | 17 certificates (AQ001193 … AQ015939) | Facility: Avalon · ROG 21 · PM10 3 · CO 136 (lb/day) |
| Olduvai Gorge, LLC | 17 certificates (AQ008458 … AQ015895) | Facility: Diamond Bar · ROG 25 · PM10 29 · SOx 104 (lb/day) |
| NRG Power Marketing, Inc. | 15 certificates (AQ003333 … AQ007393) | Facility: Diamond Bar · ROG 51 · PM10 24 · SOx 45 (lb/day) |
| Chevron Products Co. | 13 certificates (AQ003171 … AQ015945) | Facility: El Segundo, Huntington Beach · NOx 5 · ROG 34 · PM10 19 · SOx 55 · CO 47 (lb/day) |
| Orange County Sanitation District | 11 certificates (AQ006045 … AQ016009) | Facility: Huntington Beach, Seal Beach · NOx 18 · ROG 81 · SOx 9 · CO 100 (lb/day) |
| Unocal Corporation | 10 certificates (AQ001584 … AQ001684) | Facility: Alhambra, Covina, El Monte, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, Temple City, Walnut · ROG 24 (lb/day) |
| Sun Valley Energy Park | 8 certificates (AQ007219 … AQ011446) | Facility: Irvine · ROG 168 (lb/day) |
| Long Beach Generation LLC | 8 certificates (AQ006216 … AQ006579) | Facility: Long Beach · ROG 1 · CO 146 (lb/day) |
| BP West Coast Products LLC | 8 certificates (AQ004539 … AQ005677) | Facility: Hemet, La Palma, Montebello, Tujunga · ROG 62 (lb/day) |
| California Steel Industries Inc | 7 certificates (AQ002419 … AQ015537) | Facility: Fontana · NOx 29 · ROG 14 · PM10 8 · CO 4 (lb/day) |
| Swg California Holdings, LLC | 7 certificates (AQ014723 … AQ014730) | Facility: Diamond Bar · PM10 29 (lb/day) |
| LA City, Dept of Airports | 7 certificates (AQ010438 … AQ014780) | Facility: Los Angeles · ROG 11 · PM10 8 (lb/day) |
| LA City, DWP Harbor Generating Station | 6 certificates (AQ003469 … AQ005033) | Facility: Wilmington · ROG 206 · CO 98 (lb/day) |
| Air Products Manufacturing, LLC | 6 certificates (AQ015948 … AQ015953) | Facility: Paramount · ROG 28 · PM10 4 · SOx 4 · CO 82 (lb/day) |
| LA City, DWP Haynes Generating Station | 6 certificates (AQ003637 … AQ011142) | Facility: Long Beach · ROG 15 · PM10 31 · SOx 5 · CO 34 (lb/day) |
| Equilon Enterprises, LLC, L.A. Terminal | 6 certificates (AQ005348 … AQ005358) | Facility: Los Angeles · ROG 35 (lb/day) |
| Oxy USA Inc | 5 certificates (AQ011875 … AQ012823) | Facility: Huntington Beach · PM10 14 · CO 565 (lb/day) |
| UCLA | 5 certificates (AQ001439 … AQ001443) | Facility: Los Angeles · NOx 75 · ROG 3 · PM10 20 · SOx 106 · CO 40 (lb/day) |
| US Govt, Air Force Dept, March AFB | 5 certificates (AQ000686 … AQ002563) | Facility: Long Beach, Los Angeles, South Gate · NOx 40 · ROG 10 · SOx 20 · CO 115 (lb/day) |
| Clougherty Packing LLC/Hormel Foods Corp | 5 certificates (AQ000338 … AQ013984) | Facility: Vernon · ROG 5 · PM10 8 · CO 5 (lb/day) |
| The 25 holders with the most certificates. All 359 holders, with sources and volumes | ||
Recorded ERC transaction prices in South Coast AQMD
2023: 9 transactions reported to CARB under Health & Safety Code §40709.5.
| Pollutant | Median $/ton | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOx | $400,000 | $380,000 | $420,000 |
| PM10 | $460,000 | $460,000 | $460,000 |
| HC (ROG/VOC) | $22,000 | $12,000 | $27,000 |
Source: CARB ERC transaction report for 2023.
2022: 24 transactions reported to CARB under Health & Safety Code §40709.5.
| Pollutant | Median $/ton | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOx | $356,332.7 | $356,332.7 | $356,332.7 |
| PM10 | $318.78 | $318.78 | $427,777.78 |
| HC (ROG/VOC) | $21,875 | $314.02 | $27,397.26 |
| SOx | $1,190.55 | $1,189.92 | $1,191.18 |
Source: CARB ERC transaction report for 2022.
The district's own reports: calendar year 2025, 25 transfers, the three priced NOx trades at $470,000–$489,000 per ton and one priced PM10 trade at $450,000; calendar year 2024, 54 transfers, priced NOx at $416,000–$486,000 per ton and PM10 at $333,000–$472,000. Full tables.
Statewide tables, 2022–2025, on the ERC prices page.
Every recorded sale in South Coast AQMD, year by year
From the district's own transaction records, South Coast AQMD — Annual Publication of ERC Transactions (HSC §40709.5), and, for sales the district file does not list, from Table V-1 of CARB's statewide §40709.5 reports. Where both record the same sale the district's figure is used and the CARB line is not counted again. Median price per ton as recorded, the number of sales (n) and the low–high range. 3,311 transactions in all; 953 recorded without a price (830 of them recorded at $0.00: transfers without a cash price, such as splits, reissues, barters and transfers between related parties, kept as transfers, not priced sales). Prices are shown as printed, including a few nominal ones ($1–$100 per ton) that sit at the low end of some ranges. Download every transaction (CSV).
| Year | NOx | ROG / VOC | PM10 | SOx | CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $489,000 n 3 · $470,000–$489,000 | $23,000 n 9 · $11,000–$27,000 | $450,000 n 1 | , | , |
| 2024 | $416,000 n 3 · $416,000–$486,000 | $22,000 n 19 · $3,000–$25,000 | $443,000 n 3 · $333,000–$472,000 | $327,000 n 1 | $5 n 1 |
| 2023 | $400,000 n 2 · $380,000–$420,000 | $22,000 n 6 · $12,000–$27,000 | $460,000 n 1 | , | , |
| 2022 | $356,333 n 1 | $21,875 n 18 · $314–$27,397 | $319 n 3 · $319–$427,778 | $1,191 n 2 · $1,190–$1,191 | , |
| 2021 | $290,411 n 3 · $290,411–$295,890 | $23,014 n 14 · $1,660–$41,096 | $328,767 n 2 · $328,767–$328,767 | , | , |
| 2020 | , | $22,740 n 4 · $21,918–$24,658 | $334,247 n 2 · $202,740–$465,753 | , | , |
| 2019 | $287,671 n 5 · $246,575–$290,411 | $23,288 n 21 · $3,288–$30,137 | , | , | , |
| 2018 | $241,096 n 4 · $90,411–$273,973 | $22,274 n 19 · $3,288–$30,137 | $526,027 n 1 | , | , |
| 2017 | $83,562 n 11 · $83,562–$83,562 | $22,466 n 15 · $20,548–$26,027 | , | , | , |
| 2016 | , | $21,918 n 24 · $16,986–$26,301 | $547,945 n 7 · $520,548–$547,945 | $326,027 n 1 | $822 n 1 |
| 2015 | $99,141 n 2 · $90,781–$107,500 | $22,029 n 41 · $16,286–$36,111 | $533,333 n 25 · $450,000–$629,987 | , | , |
| 2014 | $63,014 n 2 · $63,014–$63,014 | $24,658 n 35 · $7,397–$32,877 | $520,548 n 27 · $289,315–$575,342 | , | $5,479 n 1 |
| 2013 | $83,022 n 28 · $21,918–$123,288 | $23,014 n 53 · $4,384–$30,137 | $547,945 n 19 · $109,589–$561,644 | $404,110 n 1 | $3,562 n 5 · $279–$3,562 |
| 2012 | $24,658 n 1 | $24,658 n 25 · $6,575–$31,781 | $575,342 n 1 | , | $1,644 n 4 · $548–$1,644 |
| 2011 | , | $32,877 n 35 · $30,137–$38,356 | $712,329 n 28 · $147,945–$1,342,466 | , | $5,479 n 4 · $5,479–$5,479 |
| 2010 | $54,795 n 1 | $37,808 n 27 · $15,525–$52,055 | $1,351,233 n 3 · $958,904–$1,351,233 | $452,055 n 1 | $5,479 n 1 |
| 2009 | $405,479 n 31 · $54,795–$684,932 | $49,315 n 54 · $32,877–$82,192 | $1,479,452 n 73 · $575,342–$1,917,808 | $443,836 n 7 · $273,973–$471,233 | , |
| 2008 | $216,216 n 1 | $86,849 n 82 · $4,110–$109,589 | $639,726 n 52 · $273,973–$1,353,425 | $263,014 n 15 · $82,192–$421,918 | , |
| 2007 | $547,945 n 5 · $186,301–$602,740 | $38,630 n 116 · $5–$95,616 | $547,945 n 10 · $322,521–$1,293,151 | $230,137 n 6 · $167,397–$356,164 | $31,090 n 4 · $3,131–$35,616 |
| 2006 | $276,712 n 11 · $82,192–$410,959 | $14,247 n 85 · $5,342–$21,370 | $465,753 n 6 · $260,274–$493,151 | $168,493 n 6 · $164,384–$273,973 | $27,397 n 10 · $13,699–$41,096 |
| 2005 | $80,822 n 16 · $5–$175,342 | $7,808 n 92 · $4,932–$13,699 | $301,370 n 14 · $126,027–$389,041 | $60,274 n 11 · $42,270–$167,123 | $31,781 n 11 · $22,466–$38,356 |
| 2004 | $47,671 n 12 · $38,356–$57,534 | $6,849 n 83 · $3,836–$21,918 | $139,726 n 16 · $109,589–$153,425 | $41,644 n 8 · $38,356–$41,644 | $22,192 n 12 · $2,740–$32,877 |
| 2003 | $55,487 n 12 · $21,918–$79,452 | $7,397 n 76 · $5,205–$9,315 | $134,247 n 4 · $110,274–$191,781 | $41,096 n 1 | $38,356 n 7 · $548–$42,877 |
| 2002 | $49,151 n 6 · $38,356–$60,274 | $9,151 n 81 · $2,740–$12,329 | $120,548 n 15 · $98,630–$136,986 | $54,795 n 3 · $25,573–$65,753 | $41,096 n 18 · $27,397–$47,397 |
| 2001 | $52,055 n 26 · $10,959–$60,274 | $10,959 n 103 · $5,479–$17,433 | $90,959 n 49 · $13,151–$126,027 | $23,288 n 16 · $5,479–$82,192 | $38,356 n 19 · $5,479–$43,836 |
| 2000 | $15,068 n 23 · $15,068–$60,274 | $4,932 n 101 · $1,096–$12,603 | $24,658 n 19 · $12,329–$46,575 | $12,795 n 16 · $9,041–$20,137 | $4,329 n 9 · $3,288–$5,644 |
| 1999 | $30,556 n 6 · $22,222–$40,000 | $3,889 n 38 · $3,056–$6,944 | $12,778 n 27 · $11,111–$16,111 | $7,621 n 2 · $6,042–$9,200 | $3,333 n 17 · $278–$3,750 |
| 1998 | $27,397 n 4 · $17,534–$28,356 | $4,453 n 39 · $1,096–$15,342 | $13,151 n 11 · $9,863–$17,534 | $10,411 n 7 · $10,108–$10,411 | $3,288 n 3 · $2,139–$3,836 |
| 1997 | $11,507 n 24 · $5,814–$15,068 | $4,932 n 35 · $384–$6,849 | $11,507 n 20 · $9,589–$16,438 | , | $7,192 n 2 · $3,425–$10,959 |
| 1996 | $6,612 n 3 · $6,575–$11,052 | $7,123 n 29 · $1,726–$8,219 | $9,863 n 17 · $9,863–$14,795 | , | , |
| 1995 | $11,644 n 2 · $11,233–$12,055 | $6,575 n 6 · $2,740–$8,219 | , | , | , |
| 1994 | $9,863 n 19 · $496–$36,977 | $6,781 n 8 · $4,932–$11,781 | $14,521 n 2 · $8,219–$20,822 | , | , |
| 1993 | $13,151 n 1 | $9,315 n 2 · $8,767–$9,863 | $17,809 n 2 · $13,699–$21,918 | $4,521 n 2 · $4,110–$4,932 | , |
Transferring ERCs in South Coast AQMD
The district's own procedure, step by step, from its rules and forms (checked 2026-10-04). Every deal room on the Exchange follows these steps.
- Buyer and seller sign a written ERC title transfer agreement showing ERC number, amount, pollutant and price (source)
- Buyer completes Form 401 as Applicant, checking 'Change of Title', entering the sale price in $/lb and the seller information; both buyer and seller sign Section B (source)
- Attach the seller's authorization letter on company letterhead, the agreement copy, and the surrendered Non-Negotiable Copy of the ERC certificate; one application per certificate (source)
- Pay the Rule 301 Schedule I Change of Title fee ($1,168.10 non-Title V / $1,463.73 Title V as of July 1, 2026) and mail to South Coast AQMD, P.O. Box 4944, Diamond Bar, CA 91765-0944 (source)
- District cancels the prior certificate, issues a new certificate to the buyer, and records the cancellation in the Register (source)
| Rule | SCAQMD Rule 1309, subdivision (e) (Transfer of ERCs or STCs by Registered Owner); see also (c) Registration and (i) Inter-Basin and Inter-District Offsets (Adopted September 10, 1982; last amended July 5, 2013) |
|---|---|
| Form | Form 401 - Application for Emission Reduction Credit (ERC) Certificate of Title (application type: Change of Title) (form rev. 2014.07) |
| Fee | Rule 301(c)(4) and Table FEE RATE-B, Schedule I: "Change of Title" $1,168.10 (Non-Title V) / $1,463.73 (Title V). Rule 301 amended May 1, 2026, effective July 1, 2026. Inter-basin, inter-district or interpollutant transfers: Change of Title fee plus hourly review at $266.95/hr (Non-Title V) or $334.51/hr (Title V) (Rule 301(j)(7)). ERC FAQ: fees "are subject to change at the beginning of each fiscal year on July 1." (source) |
| Processing time | Not published by the district |
Restrictions the district states: Rule 1309(e): transfer must be "in writing, accompanied by the sale price of such ERCs or STCs, in dollars per pound, signed by the transferor, and acknowledged in any form authorized by law." (source) · Form 401 General Instructions 4: a copy of the ERC title transfer agreement is required; it must at minimum disclose "the ERC number, amount, pollutant and purchase/sale price" plus signature blocks and dates. (source) · Form 401 Instructions 2: "The Non-Negotiable Copy of the ERC certificate must be surrendered to perform an action with that ERC. One application is required per ERC certificate." (source) · Rule 1309(i): inter-district offsets allowed if the districts are in the same air basin; inter-basin only for upwind/downwind conditions, and must be approved by resolution of both Governing Boards. Rule 1309(h): interpollutant offsets case-by-case. (source) · Rule 1309(d): ERC used "in a manner consistent with the Certificate record" and subject to the offset ratio at time of use (Rule 1303). ERC page: offset ratio 1.2-to-1.0 for ERCs. No discount at transfer is stated in Rule 1309(e). (source) · Rule 1309(c): title, interests and pertinent dates are registered in the Register of Title. The District posts Active ERC/STERC lists and H&SC 40709.5 'Emission Reduction Credit Transactions' reports. (source)
South Coast AQMD: contacts, banking rule and fees
From the district’s own pages, rules and forms, each fact linked to where it is published. Last verified 2026-10-06. Rules and fees change; confirm with the district before you file.
| District office | 21865 Copley Dr, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 (source) 909-396-2000 (source) |
|---|---|
| Permitting contact | Form 401 mail-to: SCAQMD, P.O. Box 4944, Diamond Bar, CA 91765-0944; Tel (909) 396-3385 (source) |
| District pages | ERC page · Rules · Permit forms |
| Banking rule | Rule 1309, Emission Reduction Credits and Short Term Credits Current version amended July 5, 2013. |
| Banking application | Form 401, Application for Emission Reduction Credit (ERC) Certificate of Title (source) |
| Banking fee | Rule 301(c)(4) and Table FEE RATE-B, Schedule I: Banking Application $6,612.63 (non-Title V) / $8,286.26 (Title V), paid at filing; plus public-notice fee $1,556.24 (non-Title V) / $1,950.16 (Title V) when notice is required by Rule 1310(c). Rule 301 amended May 1, 2026, effective July 1, 2026. (source) |
| Timelines in the rule |
|
| ERC register | The district’s posted register (source) |
How ERCs work in South Coast AQMD
Emission Reduction Credits are banked, district-certified reductions in NOx, ROG/VOC, PM10, SOx, or CO. Businesses building or expanding in the district may be required under New Source Review to purchase ERCs to offset new emissions before an air permit issues. Credits are generally usable only within South Coast AQMD (or its air basin with district board approval, Health & Safety Code §40709.6), which is why local scarcity sets the price. The district verifies reductions and records every transfer.
District office: (909) 396-2000. District ERC program page.
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South Coast AQMD credits by pollutant
NOx credits in South Coast AQMD · ROG / VOC credits in South Coast AQMD · PM10 credits in South Coast AQMD · SOx credits in South Coast AQMD · CO credits in South Coast AQMD
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