washington state: climate initiative

Washington State: Climate Initiative

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/

WA State 2005 GHG Emissions by Sector (MMT)

Transportation, 44.5

Residential, commercial, industrial, 19.4

Electricity consumption, 18.9

Agriculture, 5.4

Waste Management, 2.4

Industrial Processes, 3.3

Fossil Fuel Industry, 0.9


State Actions: Executive

Executive Orders:

• Reduce State Government energy and fuel consumption: (20% 2003 baseline)

• Emissions reduction, clean energy jobs and imported fuel goals

Emission Reduction: 1990 levels by 2020

25% below 1990 by 2025

50% below 1990 by 2050

Clean Energy Jobs: Create 25,000 clean energy jobs by 2020

(2004 Employment was 8,400)

Imported Fuel Costs: Reduce expenditures on imported fuel by 20% by 2020

• Establish Climate Advisory Team to develop strategic recommendations to meet

climate goals


Legislative/Regulatory Decisions• California clean car standards beginning with 2009 models: 27% reduction in ghg emission by 2020. Affects only vehicles less than 10,000lbs *

• Stringent energy-efficient building codes *

• Stringent efficiency standards for appliances *

• High performance “green” building standards. Leadership in Energy Efficient Design (LEED) certification for buildings built with state dollars *

• Partial Carbon Dioxide (CO2) mitigation for new or expanded power plants: Mitigate 20% or CO2 emissions either thru direct action or paying a fee per ton to a third party who would invest in mitigation actions *

• Solar energy tax incentives *

• Energy conservation programs *

• Initiative for clean, renewable energy. Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) for electricity generation; 15% renewables by 2020. Applies to utilities with more than 25,000 customers *

• Emissions performance standard (EPS) for new power plants and power purchases under long-term contract: EPS equals 1100lbs CO2 per megawatt hour – equivalent to a combined cycle natural gas

• Greenhouse gas inventory with biennial updates

• Governor’s greenhouse gas reduction goals incorporated in statute as required targets.


Legislative/Regulatory Decisions: Continued• Renewable fuels standard (RFS) for motor fuels: 2% biodiesel and ethanol averaged across the state’s motor fuel. Can increase to 10% conditioned on available WA feedstock and for ethanol a certification by Ecology that it wont cause problems in meeting federal ozone standards.

• Rules for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide.

• Update State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) to ensure assessment of climate impacts from proposed projects

• Green House Gas (GHG) emissions labeling for motor vehicles

• Integrate climate change assessment into growth management planning by local governments.

• Mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases

• Develop legislation and plan by 12/1/2008 to implement WCI cap – trade and to meet statutory 2020 GHG reduction goal

* Successfully implementing these existing policies will provide about 65% of the emission reductions needed to meet the state’s goals for 2020


Regional Actions: TCR• Help shape TCR data requirements and protocols to be compatible with WA and WCI needs

Regional Actions: WCI• Help shape scope, reporting, allocation, electricity and offsets associated with a regional cap and trade system

• Work closely with Washington stakeholders to find common ground for cap and trade design elements


Issues:

• Resources – Agency Coordination

• Federal Actions

• Co – Benefits, Alignment with Other Partners

• CA waiver lawsuit


Resources – Agency Coordination:

Coordination:

• Governor’s office policy lead established

• Natural Resources Cabinet – Monthly Meeting

• Ecology lead state agency for overall state climate change plan; WCI and TCR coordination; management and tracking of state legislation

• CTED – state energy policy, land-use lead

• WSDOT – State VMT reduction plan


Resources – Statewide:

• 3 – policy positions with 2008 budget

• 1 - dedicated emission inventory (Air Program)

• 1 – project position for reporting rules and tracking (Air Program)

• Air Quality Program heavily impacted for support, analysis, policy, implementation


Federal Legislation:

Suggested Principles

• A national science-based emission limit that ensures climate stabilization

• A strong state – federal partnership

• Strong support for state – based climate action plans and initiatives

• Incentives for early actions

• Rewards for state actions

• Alignment of other federal policies to ensure they don’t conflict with climate goals

Concerns

• Pre-emption

• Distribution of allowances

• Use of federal auction revenues


Alignment with Other Priorities:

• Energy generation and use

• Transportation

• Air Quality

• Economy


CA Waiver:

• EPA letter denies waiver: 12/19/2007

• CA and others file petition for review in 9th Circuit Court: 1/02/2008

• EPA files motion to dismiss: 2/15/2008 - not final action/should be in DC Circuit

• Mid February CA files protective appeal in DC Circuit

• EPA issues federal register notice: 2/29/2008 – claiming this is final waiver decision

• Auto makers file motion to dismiss: 3/18/2008 - states filed too early and not in DC Circuit Court

• States filed response to EPA: 3/3/2008; to auto makers: 3/28/2008

• Merits briefing likely extended until after courts decision on motions to dismiss

washington state: climate initiative

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