Introduction
States are creating greenhouse gas (GHG) registries in
response to the inadequacies of the federal registry embedded
in the Energy Policy Act of 1992. California, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, have existing
registry programs. Illinois, Maine, New York, Oregon, and
Washington have passed legislation requiring new or improved
registry programs. Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, and
Vermont have also rallied around this issue and introduced
various bills to address greenhouse gas production, while
nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are working to establish
a cooperative effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
with the ultimate goal of a regional cap-and-trade market
for carbon dioxide.
Federal Action
At the federal level, a greenhouse gas reduction registry
was established under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy
Act of 1992. In 2001, over 175 companies registered a total
of 1705 projects. The Federal Registry is not fully functional,
however, because it only covers reductions from specific
projects, not the business’s entire emissions footprint.
This allows registrants to receive credit for reductions
in one sector of their business while they might be producing
increased levels of greenhouse gases overall. The data is
self-reported with no standardization or third-party certification,
making it less reliable. Participation in the registry is
completely voluntary, which lets many of the biggest emitters
keep on polluting without any public disclosure.
In November 2001, the Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC) published a report, “Reporting ‘Reductions,’ Rising
Emissions,” which shows that the federal voluntary reductions
program allowed companies to claim reductions while emissions
actually increased by 25 percent from 1990 to 2000. More
recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been accepting
comments on how to revise the voluntary 1605(b) program
to make it more effective. However, if the DOE were to increase
the accountability of the program and its reporting guidelines,
it would be unlikely to gain new reporting entities/projects.
As long as such programs remain voluntary, increasing the
stringency of reporting guidelines is not likely to increase
participation.
The Climate Stewardship Act, S
139, introduced in 2003 by U.S. Senators Joseph Lieberman
(D-CT) and John McCain (R-AZ), would have required reductions
from power plants, vehicles, and other major emissions sources.
The bill was narrowly defeated in the Senate but received
a surprisingly strong 43 votes. U.S. Representatives Wayne
Gilchrest (R-MD) and John Olver (D-MA) introduced a House
companion on March 30, 2004. The bill has strong support
from a large, bipartisan group of Representatives.
State Action
GHG Reporting Programs
California
In 2001, SB
1771 and SB
527 established the California Climate Action Registry.
The registry maintains a record of greenhouse gas emissions
baselines for its registrants. The program opened in October
2002 and has 34 registrants, including the Pacific Forest
Trust, Southern California Gas Company, BP Oil, Environmental
Defense, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. For
the first three years of the program, only carbon dioxide
emissions will be tracked; all of the greenhouse gases will
be tracked after that phase-in period. California also chaptered
a bill in 2002 requiring the California Air Resources Board
to establish regulations reducing GHG emissions from cars
and light trucks, beginning in the model year 2009. The
bill, AB
1493, also required the Climate Action Registry to adopt
procedures for reporting greenhouse gas emissions from mobile
sources.
Maine
In 2003, the Maine legislature enacted legislation, PL 237,
to reduce the state’s contribution to global warming. The
law entitled, “An Act to Provide Leadership in Addressing
the Threat of Climate Change,” requires the state’s Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop a climate action
plan to reduce GHG emissions. The goal of the action plan
will be to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2010,
to 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and to levels “sufficient
to eliminate any dangerous threat to the climate” by 2030.
The state’s first action toward this goal is to accurately
inventory greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources.
Through rulemaking, the DEP is currently developing a statewide
inventory by adding GHGs to the list of emissions that entities
are required to report under Chapter 137 (Emission Statements).
For more information, visit the Maine
Greenhouse Gas Initiative web site.
New Hampshire
SB
159 established New Hampshire’s voluntary greenhouse
gas registry in 1999, but participation has been minimal.
New Jersey
In 2003, New Jersey expanded its Emissions Statement Program
to include mandatory reporting of carbon dioxide and methane
emissions from stationary sources.
Wisconsin
Emissions reporting, including emissions of greenhouse gases,
has been required in Wisconsin since 1993. The state’s strong
community right-to-know ethic makes the information readily
available to the public via the Internet. In 1999, SB
287 established the Wisconsin
Voluntary Emission Reduction Registry, a registry of
voluntary reductions of greenhouse gases without third party
verification, because reporting is part of a formal fee
permitting process. In 2003, the registry became fully operational,
although underfunded. To date, one business is registered.
Regional Programs
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
RGGI
is a cooperative effort by nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. RGGI participating
states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
In addition, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania,
and the Eastern Canadian Provinces and New Brunswick are
observers in the process and may work toward joining the
collaborative in the future. Member states are committed
to developing a regional strategy for controlling emissions,
with the goal of implementing a multi-state cap-and-trade
program, initially covering carbon dioxide emissions from
power plants in the region. In the future, RGGI may be extended
to include other sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and
greenhouse gases other than CO2.
Enacted Legislation
Connecticut
On 6/14/04, the Connecticut legislature enacted SB
595, which establishes GHG goals for 2010, 2020, and beyond;
establishes reporting requirements for GHG emissions; establishes
a Governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change; and, requires
the Department of Administrative Services to maintain information
about products, services, and practices to be used by state
government that minimize the impact on global warming.
Georgia
On 5/11/04, the Georgia
Carbon Sequestration Registry Act (SB 356) was enacted.
The statute provides for a registry of offsetting reductions
in greenhouse gases obtained by carbon sequestration; provides
legislative findings and declarations; establishes the Georgia
Carbon Sequestration Registry; and, provides for purposes
of the registry, functions, procedures and protocols, construction,
voluntary participation, reporting procedures, and standardized
forms and software.
Maine
On 5/21/03, Maine enacted Public
Law 237 (HP 622 / LD 845), which directs the Department
of Environmental Protection to create a greenhouse gas emissions
inventory for state-owned facilities and state-funded programs;
seeks to establish carbon emission reduction agreements
with businesses and nonprofit organizations; and, sets goals
for statewide GHG emission reductions.
Oregon
In 2001, Oregon enacted HB
2200, to create a forestry carbon offset accounting
system to increase carbon sequestration in state forests.
It requires a CO2 registry and inventory.
Washington
In 2002, Washington enacted HB
2326, establishing the Washington Climate and Rural
Energy Development Center within the Washington State University
energy program. It is non-regulatory, but gathers greenhouse
gas emissions information and voluntary reduction information,
and is intended to be a clearinghouse of scientifically-based
information on addressing climate change and clean energy.
Introduced Legislation
Arizona
SB
1227, introduced 1/27/04, would create a Global Climate
Change Study Committee to study the impact of climate change,
establish a statewide inventory of GHG sources, and make
recommendations for GHG reductions.
Status: 2/10/04 From Senate
Committee on Natural Resources and Transportation.
Hawaii
HCR
113 (HR 77, SCR 168, SR 88), introduced 3/23/04, would
require the Department of Business, Economic Development,
and Tourism to review the feasibility of the state to enroll
in the Chicago Climate Exchange.
Status: 4/19/94 To Senate Committee
on Energy and Environment.
Minnesota
HF
2656 (SB 2580), introduced 3/1/04, would require the
development of a state plan for reducing GHG emissions from
electric generation facilities and other sources.
Status: 3/1/04 To House Committee
on Regulated Industries.
New York
AB
10049, introduced 3/2/04, would require the Commissioner
of Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and regulations
implementing reductions in emission of carbon dioxide by
major electric generating facilities.
Status: 4/19/04 Passed Assembly;
to Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation.
Rhode Island
H
7246, introduced 1/15/04, would direct the Department
of Environmental Management to develop plans for fossil
fuel and greenhouse gas reduction and exempt certain alternative
energy equipment from taxations.
Status: 1/15/04 To House Committee
on Environment and Natural Resources.
H
7375, introduced 1/27/04, would establish renewable
energy portfolio standards and energy source disclosure
requirements by requiring the public utilities commission
to adopt regulations specifically relating thereto.
Status: 3/18/04 To House Committee
on Environment and Natural Resources.
Vermont
S
291, introduced 1/13/04, would establish goals of greenhouse
gas reduction from the 1990 baseline; would establish a
climate neutral working group; would investigate feasibility
of a carbon emissions cap-and-trade program; would develop
an emissions tracking protocol; and, would require state
government entities to purchase energy efficient energy-consuming
devices and vehicles.
Status: 1/13/04 To Senate Committee
on Natural Resources and Energy.
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