HB 1597 - DIGEST

Requires the department of ecology, in consultation with the utilities and transportation commission, the chair of the energy facility site evaluation council, the department of natural resources, and the department of commerce, to adopt a rule to establish an upstream emissions rate that incorporates production, gathering, processing, transmission, storage, and distribution emissions that occur before the end use of natural gas or final point of commerce for the natural gas in the state.

Requires the energy facility site evaluation council, the department of ecology, and an air pollution control agency to: (1) Apply a natural gas upstream emissions rate and global warming potential consistent with the adopted rule mentioned above; and

(2) Require a carbon dioxide mitigation plan to provide mitigation based upon the carbon dioxide equivalents associated with both the end use of the natural gas and the production, gathering, processing, transmission, storage, and distribution of natural gas consistent with the adopted rule.

Requires the utilities and transportation commission, gas companies, and electrical companies to use a natural gas upstream emissions rate and global warming potential consistent with the adopted rule.

Requires the study of environmental impact information for a proposed potential site to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the adopted rule.