[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the Washington climate and rural energy development center; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature makes the following findings:

(1) Enough is now known about the science and projected environmental impacts of climate change for the state to take actions to address its consequences.

(2) The state can and should take concrete steps to assess opportunities for emission reductions, establish and meet emission reduction objectives, and invest in new, more efficient products, practices, and technologies.

(3) The state can and should support the establishment of a central clearinghouse to serve as an impartial, unbiased source of credible and reliable information and services necessary to address the various aspects of this issue.

(4) The state should support the establishment of a central clearinghouse to serve as an impartial, unbiased source of credible and reliable information about climate change for the public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply to this chapter only.

(1) "Center" means the Washington climate and rural energy development center.

(2) "Clean energy activities" means programs and industries promoting research, development, or commercialization of: (a) Qualified alternative energy resources, as that term is defined in RCW 19.29A.090; (b) energy efficiency measures and technologies; and (c) technologies designed to significantly reduce the use of, or emissions from, motor vehicle fuels.

(3) "Climate change" means a change of climate attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere.

(4) "Emissions" means the release of greenhouse gases.

(5) "Emitter" means the entity releasing greenhouse gases.

(6) "Greenhouse gases" includes carbon dioxide, methane and natural gas, and nitrous oxide.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The state legislature authorizes the establishment of the Washington climate and rural energy development center in the Washington State University energy program to serve as a central, impartial, nonregulatory, public source of credible and reliable information and services necessary to address the various aspects of climate change and clean energy activities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The center shall be funded through grants, voluntary monetary, in-kind contributions, and other sources.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The center, which is nonregulatory in nature, may, conditioned on the availability of sufficient funding:

(a) Identify key sectors within the state likely to be affected adversely by climate change;

(b) Examine and report the feasibility of a carbon storage program for the state by:

(i) Evaluating other states' and nations' attempts to establish carbon credit programs, carbon storage programs, carbon storage requirements worldwide, and methods and scientific programs that are used to implement carbon storage programs;

(ii) Analyzing other programs in the state of Washington, including the conservation reserve enhancement program, that could facilitate a carbon storage program and a stable carbon storage market; and

(iii) Analyzing methods to encourage and increase appropriate carbon storage activities;

(d) Collect and share scientific and technological data related to climate change;

(e) Collect and share information about clean energy activities in the rural areas of the state, including information about state resources available for developing such clean energy opportunities;

(f) Compile or make available prospective commercial opportunities;

(g) Make itself available to evaluate, consult, monitor, or verify mitigation projects;

(h) Make itself available to support the commercial exchange of any credits from mitigation or other related efforts;

(i) Assist with any future planning to deal with the potential effects of any changes in the climate that may occur;

(j) Accomplish any other duty assigned to it by the legislature for which adequate funding is provided;

(k) Provide a biennial report to the governor and the appropriate legislative committees by December 31st of every even-numbered year regarding its operations, including the status of greenhouse gas reductions in the state; and

(l) Study and make recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees on the potential:

(i) Impacts of climate change in the state; and

(ii) Effects of early action by the state, before action is taken by the federal government, on Washington's competitive position with respect to other states.

(2) The following agencies and programs will work with the center to assist with the duties listed under this section: The department of community, trade, and economic development, the department of ecology, the department of transportation, the department of health, the department of fish and wildlife, the department of agriculture, the department of natural resources, and the Washington State University energy program.

(3) The legislature may appoint one member from each legislative caucus to serve on a legislative oversight committee for the center.

(4) The center must establish task forces and technical advisory committees, balanced in representation and consisting of any interested elected leaders, state and local agencies, businesses, labor groups, timber industry groups, agricultural groups, nonprofit organizations, university and college programs, industrial emitters of greenhouse gases, and citizens, as necessary to assist in the duties in this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The center shall publicize mitigation projects and efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act takes effect July 1, 2002.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 6 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.