Climate Change
 

Resources: Climate Change

NW Hydro Generation Hydro Operations Renewable Energy Climate Change 
Laws & Regulations Pending Legislation/Rulemaking Litigation


Hydropower generation avoids emissions

Hydropower operators make use of the ability to store water and regulate river flow to ensure that this clean energy source is available when the public needs electricity. By releasing or retaining water at certain times of the year, hydropower operators can ensure water is available to meet peak energy demand when it is needed most. Some dams even have the ability to help regulate water by the hour or minute to help meet sharp but temporary spikes in electric demand. This ability to meet temporary peak loads in electric demand can prevent the need for utilities to keep fossil fuel generation on stand-by to serve this highly variable electric load. In this way, use of hydropower generation helps avoid the release of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel generation.

Currently, state and national level discussions are ongoing about how to manage and mitigate for greenhouse gas emissions from many sectors of the economy - including the utility sector. As legislative proposals are developed, the Northwest Hydroelectric Association urges policy makers to recognize the important role that hydropower plays as a clean, non-emitting energy source. 

Pending Legislation

See the Pending Legislation section of this web site for Climate Change bills in Congress.

Latest News on Climate Change Debate

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.

Background Information/Whitepapers

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...

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