SENATE BILL REPORT
E2SHB 2528
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As of February 19, 2020
Title: An act relating to recognizing the contributions of the state's forest products sector as part of the state's global climate response.
Brief Description: Recognizing the contributions of the state's forest products sector as part of the state's global climate response.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Ramos, DeBolt, Chapman, Boehnke, Blake, Fitzgibbon, Tharinger and Santos).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/16/20, 95-0.
Committee Activity: Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks: 2/20/20.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER, NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS |
Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7428)
Background: In 2008, Washington enacted legislation setting a series of limits on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the state. The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is responsible for monitoring and tracking the state's progress toward the emission limits.
Current law requires the state to limit GHG emissions for achieving overall reductions as follows:
by 2020 to 1990 levels;
by 2035 to 25 percent below 1990 levels; and
by 2050 to 50 percent below 1990 levels, or 70 percent below the state's expected emissions for that year.
The 2008 legislation also required Ecology to consult with the climate impacts group at the University of Washington regarding the science on human-caused climate change and provide a report to the Legislature making recommendations regarding whether the GHG emissions reductions needed to be updated.
In December 2019, Ecology issued its most recent report on Washington State GHG emission reduction limits. The report recommended reducing overall GHG emissions in the state:
by 2030 to 45 percent below 1990 levels;
by 2040 to 70 percent below 1990 levels; and
by 2050 to 95 percent below 1990 levels, and achieve net zero GHG emissions in the state.
According to Ecology's report, carbon neutrality or net zero means that any remaining emissions would be offset by carbon capture processes that remove GHG from the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration is the process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide is taken up by trees, grasses, and other plants through photosynthesis and stored as carbon in biomass.
Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (Proposed Striking Amendment): The scope of actions that Washington should take in order to continue its leadership on climate change policy is expanded to include maintaining and enhancing the state's ability to continue to sequester carbon through natural and working lands and forest products. The Legislature intends that the state will support industry sectors that act as sequesterers of carbon. It is stated as the policy of the state to support the complete forest products sector, which includes landowners, mills, bioenergy, pulp and paper, and the related harvesting and transportation infrastructure. State carbon programs must support policies that recognize the forest products industry's contribution to the state's climate response.
The Forest and Forest Products Carbon Account (Account) is created to provide grants to landowners, nonprofits, local governments, tribes, or state land managing agency to advance the state's carbon sequestration goals including reforestation, afforestation, urban tree planting, and planting forested buffers in riparian areas. In addition to state general funds and the capital budget, the Account may receive revenues from policies that establish a price on carbon. The State Conservation Commission, in addition to providing grants to landowners, may use a portion of the funds for administrative costs and may conduct an opportunity analysis of land in Washington to determine how many acres of deforested land may be returned to working forests.
The Department of Commerce must promote markets for the state's forest products to assist in meeting the goals of mitigating carbon emissions through carbon sequestration.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.