2SSB 5343 -
By Committee on Environment
NOT CONSIDERED 03/02/2012
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 70.94 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) A generator operating at an electric generating project with an
installed generator capacity of at least seven hundred fifty kilowatts
but not exceeding one thousand kilowatts, that began operating after
2008, and that is located on agricultural lands of long-term commercial
significance pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, is not bound by permit
provisions related to the emissions limit for sulfur established by the
department or a local air authority until December 31, 2018, if it is
fueled by biogas that:
(a) Is produced by an anaerobic digester that qualifies for the
solid waste permitting exemption specified in RCW 70.95.330; and
(b) Contains less than 0.1 percent sulfur by volume, after a start-up period not exceeding one hundred eighty days.
(2) A generator that meets the requirements in subsection (1) of
this section may not be located in a federally designated nonattainment
or maintenance area.
(3) Upon request, the department or a local air authority must
provide technical assistance to a generator meeting the requirements in
subsection (1) of this section to assist the generator in reducing its
emissions in order to meet the requirements in this chapter.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Anaerobic digester" means a vessel that processes organic
material into biogas and digestate using microorganisms in a
decomposition process within a closed, oxygen-free container.
(b) "Generator" means an internal combustion engine that converts
biogas into electricity, and includes any back-up combustion device to
burn biogas when an engine is idled for maintenance.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 (1) By December 1, 2012, the department of
ecology must submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of
the legislature containing information regarding the degree to which
current state air quality regulations consider different feed sources
for anaerobic digesters and strategies to address the different feed
sources used in anaerobic digesters. The department of ecology must
consult with interested parties in drafting the report.
(2) The definitions in section 1(4) of this act apply throughout
this section."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Strikes all of the provisions in the underlying bill.
Exempts a generator operating at an electric generating project with an
installed generator capacity of at least seven hundred fifty kilowatts,
but not exceeding one thousand kilowatts, that began operating after
2008, is located on agricultural lands of long-term commercial
significance under the growth management act, and that meets certain
conditions for its biogas, from the permit provisions related to the
emissions limit for sulfur established by the department of ecology or
a local air authority until December 31, 2018. A generator that meets
these requirements may not be located in a federally designated
nonattainment or maintenance area.
Specifies that upon request, the department of ecology or a local
air authority must provide technical assistance to a generator meeting
the requirements above in reducing its emissions.
Requires the department of ecology to submit a report by December
1, 2012, to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature
containing information regarding the degree to which current state air
quality regulations consider different feed sources for anaerobic
digesters, and strategies to address the different feed sources used in
anaerobic digesters.