BILL REQ. #:  S-1413.4 

READ FIRST TIME 03/02/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to state greenhouse gas emissions; and adding new sections to chapter 70.94 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) Greenhouse gases trap heat and thus warm the earth because they prevent a significant proportion of infrared radiation from escaping into space. Concentration of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, have increased substantially since the beginning of the industrial revolution.
     (2) The National Academy of Sciences has indicated that the increase is due in large part to human activity. While scientific uncertainties remain, the state should start addressing the factors that contribute to climate change.
     (3) Climate change has profound impacts on the state, including loss of snow pack, reduction in summer irrigation water, hardships for salmon and forests, and coastal erosion and flooding.
     (4) Numerous other states have established greenhouse gases reduction goals including Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon, as well as regional goals by the New England states and the eastern Canadian provinces.
     (5) Goals provide a clear performance target for statewide activities to address greenhouse gases and climate change.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The definitions in this section apply to sections 1 and 3 through 5 of this act, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Center" means the Washington State University climate and rural energy development center as defined in RCW 28B.30.640.
     (2) "Greenhouse gases" means carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), methane (CH₄), ozone (O₃), sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The following shall be the goals of the state of Washington to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases throughout the state and across all major sectors:
     (1) By December 1, 2010, the state of Washington will reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions to a level that does not exceed the total annual production of greenhouse gases produced within the state in 1990.
     (2) By December 1, 2020, the state of Washington will reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions to a level that is at least ten percent below the total annual production of greenhouse gases produced within the state in 1990.
     (3) Beyond 2020, the state of Washington will continue to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions to levels consistent with long-term stabilization of greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere and consistent with the recommendations of the intergovernmental panel on climate change.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The Washington State University center for climate and rural development in cooperation with the department of ecology, the department of community, trade, and economic development, and other government entities, including local air pollution control agencies, shall report to the legislature and governor every three years on greenhouse gas emissions produced within the state and total greenhouse gas emissions produced out of state as a result of in-state energy demands. The report shall describe progress toward achieving the goals set forth in section 3 of this act.
     (2) The report shall cover all major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and shall put particular emphasis on state government-related emissions.
     (3) The center, in cooperation with the department of ecology, the department of community, trade, and economic development, the energy facility site evaluation council, and other interested parties, shall create a greenhouse gas emissions registry by December 31, 2006. The registry should provide a process for reporting emissions and a mechanism to determine the state's status in attaining the emission reduction goals. To the maximum extent possible, the center shall coordinate with other states that have or are developing such registries. The center may determine that Washington state participation in an existing or proposed multistate climate registry is sufficient to meet the requirements of this act.
     (4) To the extent that there are state mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements for new power plants or other emissions sources as required under chapter 80.70 RCW, those entities that are bound by the requirement shall report their emissions characteristics to the registry every three years, beginning no later than December 31, 2007.
     (5) The center may develop guidelines necessary for implementation of this section. The guidelines shall make provisions for both mandatory reporting by those entities covered by subsection (4) of this section and voluntary reporting for all other entities that may wish to use the registry.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) The center together with the department of community, trade, and economic development shall investigate greenhouse gas reduction strategies for the state and report its findings to the governor and legislature. The center shall make use of all reports and analyses of state or region-specific greenhouse gas reduction strategies. The report shall emphasize those strategies that offer the potential to reduce overall costs and, in particular, could result in economic development benefits to the state. The report shall be delivered to the governor and legislature by July 1, 2006.
     (2) The center, together with the department of ecology and the department of community, trade, and economic development, shall investigate the feasibility of a greenhouse gas cap and trade system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The center shall produce a report to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2006, that includes explicit consideration of:
     (a) Any existing system or proposed state or regional greenhouse gas cap and trade systems;
     (b) The feasibility and potential benefits of participating in a multistate cap and trade system;
     (c) Cap and trade systems that include, but are not limited to, electricity load-based emissions.
     (3) The center shall consult with agriculture, forestry, conservation, and other interested parties on steps that the state can take to promote viable and economically attractive greenhouse gas trading markets for Washington companies.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   Sections 1 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 70.94 RCW.