(Oakland, CA) – On Thursday, March 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m., Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) will be recognized by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) for having her district office recently become a Certified Green Business. The event will take place during the ABAG Executive Board Meeting at ABAG Headquarters, 101 8th Street, in Oakland.

As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and a long-time advocate for the environment, Assemblywoman Hancock believes it is imperative that everyone do their part to operate in a more environmentally responsible way, both at home and in the workplace.  Wanting to do her part to reduce waste and serve as an example to other local businesses, Hancock gave the go-ahead to her district office, located in El Cerrito, to begin the process for becoming a green business.  In February, after several months of audits and implementing more environmentally sound business practices, the Bay Area Green Business Program certified Hancock’s office as a Green Business.

The Bay Area Green Business Program is a partnership of environmental agencies and utilities that assists, recognizes and promotes businesses and government agencies that volunteer to operate in a more environmentally responsible way. To be certified "green," participants must be in compliance with all regulations and meet program standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution and minimizing waste. Over 850 businesses and public agencies have been certified since 1996.