BILL REQ. #:  S-1464.1 

Read first time 02/16/2005.   Referred to Committee on Water, Energy & Environment.

     AN ACT Relating to reducing greenhouse gases; adding a new chapter to Title 19 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Consumer-owned utility" includes a municipal electric utility formed under Title 35 RCW, a public utility district formed under Title 54 RCW, an irrigation district formed under chapter 87.03 RCW, a cooperative formed under chapter 23.86 RCW, a mutual corporation or association formed under chapter 24.06 RCW, a port district formed under Title 53 RCW, or a water-sewer district formed under Title 57 RCW, that is engaged in the business of distributing electricity to one or more retail electric customers in the state.
     (2) "Electric utility" means a consumer-owned or investor-owned utility.
     (3) "Greenhouse gases" means carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides as they relate to electricity generation.
     (4) "Investor-owned utility" means a corporation owned by investors that meets the definition of corporation in RCW 80.04.010 and is engaged in distributing electricity to more than one retail electric customer in the state.
     (5) "Permanently offset" means an emitter of greenhouse gases making an arrangement with another party whereby the other party permanently reduces greenhouse gas emissions on behalf of the original emitter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) Beginning June 1, 2005, every electricity generating plant in the state of Washington using coal shall begin reducing or permanently offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions by twenty-five percent per year.
     (2) By January 1, 2008, every electricity generating plant in the state of Washington using coal shall permanently offset its greenhouse gas emissions by one hundred percent, or completely phase out the use of coal for electricity.
     (3) No electric utility in the state of Washington shall enter into new long-term contracts to purchase electricity using coal from within or from outside of the state of Washington.
     (4) Contracts in effect on the effective date of this act shall be honored but not renewed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect June 1, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Sections 1 through 3 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 19 RCW.