Climate Change State Regulatory Developments
Across the states, several regulatory climate change trends emerged during 2008. Among these trends, the creation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction plans, the establishment of GHG inventories as well as the study of the anticipated effects global warming will have on the environment and public health have been the most common. In particular, many of the regulatory climate change proposals focus on increased vehicle emission controls.
While some states have developed state-specific climate change programs, others have joined regional climate change initiatives. For instance, North Carolina created the Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG) while other states have joined regional initiatives such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (RGGGA) in the Midwest, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the Northeast and the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) in the West.
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State
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Regulation
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Status/
Implementation |
Contact |
| California |
The Air Resources Board (ARB) is discussing the development of regulations establishing the use of lower carbon fuel standards (LCFS) to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from motor vehicles in California. The LCFS regulations are in response to directives required by A.B. 32, The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Nunez, D-CA) and Executive Order S-01-07 signed by Governor Schwarzenegger (R-CA) 01/18/07.s |
Comments/
Workshop |
Steve Brisby
Air Resources Board
(916) 322-6019 |
| Florida |
Governor Crist (R) established the Florida Governor's Action Team on Energy and Climate Change (Team) by Executive Order 07/13/07. The Team is developing the Florida Energy and Climate Change Action Plan (Plan), which will include recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diversifying energy resources. The Phase I Report is available, and the Team is developing the Phase II Report. The Phase II Report will focus on mitigating the effects on public health, the environment, and the economy of greenhouse gas emissions from new growth.
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Public Meeting
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Adrienne Walker
Department of Environmental Protection
(850) 245-2002 |
| Washington |
The Department has proposed amendments to regulations, WAC 173-407 and 173-218, as a part of the implementation of ESSB 6001 (engrossed substitute senate bill). ESSB 6001 establishes an Emission Performance Standards (EPS) for greenhouse gases (GHG) for baseload power plants and rule language for the Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide. The EPS proposal and ESSB 6001 are intended to help mitigate climate change impacts in Washington. ESSB 6001 sets a deadline of 06/30/08, to adopt a GHG EPS by rule for all baseload electric generation for which electric utilities enter into long-term financial
commitments on or after 07/01/08.
In general, the rule must: (1) Implement and enforce EPS; (2) Establish criteria for evaluating carbon sequestration plans; and (3) Establish an output-based methodology for calculating emissions of GHGs for a co-generation facility. Additionally, per ESSB 6001, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) is also developing regulations parallel to the Department proposal.
Citation:
WAC 173-407; WAC 173-218
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Review of
Comments
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Nancy Pritchett
Department of Ecology
(360) 407-6082 |
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West Virginia
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The Department has finalized a rule to establish a program which requires the reporting and inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by stationary sources which emit more than a de minimis amount of GHGs. This program will inventory GHG emissions from stationary, area, mobile, and biogenic sources, and account for reductions, capture, and sequestration activities. This rule provides for a periodic compilation of a net GHG emissions inventory, and a determination whether West Virginia is a net sink or emitter of GHGs. The rule also provides for development of a registry for voluntary reductions of GHG emissions, and a determination whether the reduction, capture, and sequestration of GHG emissions can be developed as an asset for economic development.
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Effective
06/01/08 |
John Benedict
Department of Environmental Protection
(304) 926-0499 |
Information compiled May 1, 2008.
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