The Climate Registry seeks comments on
the Draft General Reporting Protocol
November, 2007
The Climate Registry is a
collaboration between states, provinces and tribes aimed at
developing and managing a common greenhouse gas emissions
reporting system. The organization is accepting
comments on its
draft general reporting protocol through November 30,
2007.
Carbon Dioxide
Footprint of the Northwest Power System
November, 2007
On September 13, 2007, the Northwest Power and
Conservation Council released a draft paper addressing the
carbon dioxide production of the Northwest power system. The
objective of the paper is to
compare forecasted annual, cumulative and per-MWH average CO2
production of the power system under a base case and various
alternative future resource scenarios. Comments were due October
19, 2007. A final paper, entitled "Carbon
Dioxide Footprint of the Northwest Power System," was issued
in November, 2007.
The Western Climate Initiative seeks
comments on is work plan for developing and designing a proposed
cap-and-trade program
October, 2007
The Western Climate Partners,
through the Western Climate Initiative, set an overall
regional goal in August 2007 for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. By August 2008, they intend to complete
design of a market-based mechanism to help achieve that
reduction goal. A work plan has been developed and the
partners are seeking public input. Comments are due
November 30, 2007. Click
here to see the work plan.
Western Climate Initiative Announces Regional GHG
Emissions Goal
August 22, 2007
The Western Climate Initiative (WCI), a collaboration
between the Governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico,
Oregon and Washington and the Canadian provinces of British
Columbia and Manitoba, has established a regional goal to
reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the West to 15
percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The regional goal does
not replace the individual state’s goals regarding GHG
emissions, but rather the WCI members will use the regional
goal in the design of the multi-sector market-based
mechanism. Also, other U.S. states, tribes, Canadian
provinces and Mexican states that want to join the WCI must
have an economy-wide greenhouse gas reduction goal that is
consistent with the regional goal.
The WCI’s activities are being reviewed by more than just
the member-states. Four other U.S. states (Colorado, Kansas,
Nevada and Wyoming), three Canadian provinces (Ontario,
Quebec and Saskatchewan) and one Mexican state (Sonora) are
participating as observers to the WCI’s deliberations and
may join as members in the future.
Currently the WCI is working on meeting an August 2008
deadline for designing the multi-sector market-based
mechanism for the member-states. All eight WCI members also
have joined The Climate Registry, a GHG emissions registry
consisting of more than 40 U.S. states, tribes, Canadian
provinces and Mexican states. Additional information on
WCI’s activities is available at
http://www.westernclimateinitiative.org/.
California’s Market Advisory Committee Holds Meeting on
GHG Cap-and-Trade System Report
August 22, 2007
On August 21, 2007, California’s Market Advisory
Committee held a meeting regarding the “Recommendations for
Designing a Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade System for
California” report as required by California’s Global
Warming Solutions Act. The meeting discussed potential
designs for a regulatory program to address GHG emissions in
the electricity sector, in particular the “first-seller”
approach. Additional information available at
http://www.energy.ca.gov/ghg_emissions/meetings/.
California Holds Meeting on Effect of Climate Change on
Water Resources
August 22, 2007
On August 23, 2007, the State Water Resources Control
Board and the Department of Water Resources will hold a
joint meeting to discuss the effects of climate change on
water resources. The state agencies will determine how they
can integrate climate change considerations into their
existing policies, regulatory responsibilities and grant
programs and how climate change will directly impact their
various programs. The Department of Water Resources is
planning to incorporate climate change as a component of the
California Water Plan. The meeting is open to the public,
available by video broadcast, and will accept comments from
interested stakeholders. Additionally, the State Water Board
will accept written comments on the subject through
September 14, 2007. For additional information see
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/waterresources/waterresources.pdf.
Oregon’s Climate Change Integration Group Meeting
August 22, 2007
Oregon’s Climate Change Integration Group will be meeting
on September 17, 2007 for an all day meeting. Additional
information available at
http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/GBLWRM/CCIG-meetings.shtml.
King County Requires Climate Change Impacts To Be Considered During SEPA
Environmental Review of New Projects
August 3, 2007
King
County Executive Ron Sims has issued an Executive Order,
effective September 1, 2007, requiring County agencies to
consider climate impacts (including greenhouse gases) as
part of their project review under Washington State’s
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The Executive Order applies
to any project that requires a SEPA checklist.
Click here for order
Energy and Climate Change Law Alert from Van Ness Feldman
August 3,
2007
Senators Lieberman and Warner Release Detailed Outline of
Climate Change Legislation. Senators Joseph Lieberman
(I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) released a detailed
outline for a federal greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade
bill. The Senators are seeking comment on the outline in
order to inform their effort to draft legislation to be
introduced in the fall. The Senators propose to regulate
facilities in the electric power, industrial, and
transportation sectors, which they assert account for 80% of
US GHG emissions. Click for
additional details.
July
17, 2007
The
Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and
Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development
(CTED) have formed the Washington Climate Advisory Team
(CAT) to assist with the development of specific
action-oriented recommendations for climate change
mitigation and GHG reduction policies for Washington.
This group is charged with developing a comprehensive
set of state-level policy recommendations to deliver to
Ecology and CTED by January 2008. Meetings are open to
the public, with an opportunity to comment. The next
meeting will be held on August 7, 2007 from 8:30 am to
5:00 pm at the Washington State Convention and Trade
Center, Level 2 North, Room 2AB, 800 Convention Place,
Seattle.
Energy and Climate Change Law Alert from Van Ness
Feldman
July
13, 2007
Senators
Bingaman and Specter Offer Detailed Climate Change Bill
California Releases Final Cap-and-Trade Report
Link
June
29, 2007
As
required by California’s Global Warming Solutions Act,
California’s Market Advisory Committee released the
final version of the “Recommendations for Designing a
Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade System for California”.
The report outlines the various design elements which
may be used in an emissions trading program. The
Committee’s final report was submitted to the Air
Resources Board and key findings of the report will be
presented at the July 27, 2007 Board meeting in
Sacramento, California. Board staff will present a
schedule for the development of the scoping plan for
implementation of the emissions trading program for the
state.
Oregon Legislature Passes Bill to Reduce Global Warming
Emissions
June
25, 2007
On
June 25, 2007, the Oregon State Legislature passed House
Bill 3543, which takes numerous actions to reduce global
warming emissions. The bill codifies Governor
Kulongoski’s greenhouse gas reduction goals: by 2010
Oregon will begin to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; by
2020 Oregon will achieve greenhouse gas levels 10% less
than 1990 levels; and by 2050 Oregon will achieve
greenhouse gas levels 75% below 1990 levels. The bill
also establishes a state Global Warming Commission. The
Commission is responsible for recommendations to meet
the greenhouse gas reduction targets, reviewing cap and
trade systems, developing an educational strategy on
global warming issues, tracking global warming impacts
on Oregon and other issues. The bill also creates the
Oregon Climate Research Institute in the Oregon
University System.
Climate Change Report from Western Governors' Association
and Western States Water Council.
May, 2007
The Western States Water Council and the Western
Governors' Association and others have developed a report on
climate change research needs.
WGA and WSWC Climate Change Report.
Washington State Lawmakers Push California-Style
Emissions Reduction Proposal
March 8, 2007
Washington State legislators introduced Senate Bill 6001 on
February 12, 2007 rolling back GHG emissions to 1990 levels
by January 1, 2020.
Five State Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Initiative Signed
February 2007
The Governors of Washington, Oregon,
California, Arizona and New Mexico signed the Western
Regional Climate Action Initiative. This memorandum of
understanding (MOU) commits the five states to the
following three tasks:
- By August 26, 2007: Set an overall regional
greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal--this will build
off the already established state goals;
- By August 26, 2008: Develop a design for a
regional market based multi-sector program to
achieve GHG reductions; and
- Establishment of a multi-state registry to track
GHG emissions and credit companies for reductions
Read More...
In May, 2007, British Columbia and Utah joined the
original five states and signed an MOU to be part of the
Western Regional Climate Action Initiative.
Climate Change Legislation: Major Policy Issues Before
Congress,
February 20, 2007, Prepared by Craig Gannett and Dan
Adamson, Davis Wright Tremaine, on behalf of Avista Corp.
This paper describes the major issues that Congress
will need to resolve in crafting climate change
legislation. It also describes how the Northwest may be
affected by the resolution of at least some of these
issues. For simplicity, this paper cites examples from
bills that have been introduced in the Senate; the same
issues are also addressed in bills introduced in the
House.
Read More...
