New Industry Partner Accepted into the Climate VISION Program

May 25, 2005

The Industrial Minerals Association, North America, (IMA-NA) has formally joined the Climate VISION program, part of the Bush Administration's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 18 percent by 2012.

IMA is the 14th trade association or business group to join with the Climate VISION (Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now) program, which assists industry in their efforts to move towards practices, procedures and technologies that are more cost-effective, efficient, and capable of reducing, capturing, or sequestering greenhouse gas emissions.

"IMA's entry into the Climate VISION program is an excellent example of how businesses can continue to operate successfully and productively while increasing their environmental sensitivities at the same time," Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman said. "Their commitment and involvement will contribute significantly to President Bush's goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. The Climate VISION program, already a strong public-private partnership program, is made even stronger by IMA's participation."

Industrial Minerals Association participating members account for about 80 percent of soda ash, 100 percent of borates, and 60 percent of merchant sodium silicates production. The association has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions from fuel combustion per ton of product by 4.2 percent between 2000 and 2012.

IMA President Mark Ellis commented, "Our members are pleased to join with the President and other forward-thinking industry groups in this worthwhile program. All of us want to do our part in making our society both environmentally sustainable and economically prosperous."

IMA joins other Climate VISION Partners that represent a broad range of industry sectors, including oil and gas production, transportation, and refining; electricity generation; coal and mineral production and mining; manufacturing, railroads; and forestry products.

For information on the Climate VISION program, visit http://www.climatevision.gov.