The definitions in this section are found in RCW 80.70.010 and apply throughout this chapter unless clearly stated otherwise. The definitions are reprinted below.

"Applicant" has the meaning provided in RCW 80.50.020 and is subject to RCW 80.70.020 (1)(a).

"Carbon credit" means a verified reduction in carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalents that is registered with a state, national, or international trading authority or exchange that has been recognized by EFSEC.

"Carbon dioxide equivalents" means a metric measure used to compare the emissions of various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential.

"Certificate holder" means the company that holds a site certification agreement and is authorized to construct and operate an energy facility under chapter 80.50 RCW.

"Cogeneration credit" means the carbon dioxide emissions that EFSEC, department, or authority, as appropriate, estimates would be produced on an annual basis by a stand-alone industrial and commercial facility equivalent in operating characteristics and output to the industrial or commercial heating or cooling process component of the cogeneration plant.

"Cogeneration plant" means a fossil-fueled thermal power plant in which the heat or steam is also used for industrial or commercial heating or cooling purposes and that meets federal energy regulatory commission standards for qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.

"Commercial operation" means the date that the first electricity produced by a facility is delivered for commercial sale to the power grid.

"Department" means the department of ecology.

"EFSEC" or "council" means the energy facility site evaluation council created by RCW 80.50.030.

"Fossil fuel" means natural gas, petroleum, coal, or any form of solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel derived from such material to produce heat for the generation of electricity.

"Independent qualified organization" means a third-party company or organization that is independent of any energy facility that emits CO2 and is recognized by the council to receive payment for selection, monitoring, and evaluation of CO2 emissions mitigation activities.

"Mitigation plan" means a proposal that includes the process or means to achieve carbon dioxide mitigation through use of mitigation projects or carbon credits.

"Mitigation project" means one or more of the following:

(a) Projects or actions that are implemented by the certificate holder directly or through its agent, or by an independent qualified organization to mitigate the emission of carbon dioxide produced by the fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facility. This term includes, but is not limited to, the use of energy efficiency measures, clean and efficient transportation measures, qualified alternative energy resources, demand side management of electricity consumption, and carbon sequestration programs;

(b) Direct application of combined heat and power (cogeneration);

(c) Verified carbon credits traded on a recognized trading authority or exchange; or

(d) Enforceable and permanent reductions in carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalents through process change, equipment shutdown, or other activities under the control of the applicant and approved as part of a carbon dioxide mitigation plan.

"Permanent" means that emission reductions used to offset emission increases are assured for the life of the corresponding increase, whether unlimited or limited in duration.

"Qualified alternative energy resource" has the same meaning as in RCW 19.29A.090.

"Site certification agreement" means the document as recommended by EFSEC and approved by the governor that lists the requirements and conditions for construction and operation of an energy facility, including any attached or associated permits or authorizations, for example a prevention of deterioration permit or notice of construction.

"Station generating capability" means the maximum load a generator can sustain over a given period of time without exceeding design limits, and measured using maximum continuous electric generation capacity, less net auxiliary load, at average ambient temperature and barometric pressure.

"Total carbon dioxide emissions" means:

(a) For a fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facility described under RCW 80.70.020 (1)(a) and (b), the amount of carbon dioxide emitted over a thirty-year period based on the manufacturer's or designer's guaranteed total net station generating capability, new equipment heat rate, an assumed sixty percent capacity factor for facilities under EFSEC's jurisdiction and taking into account any enforceable limitations on operational hours or fuel types and use; and

(b) For a fossil-fueled thermal electric generation facility described under RCW 80.70.020 (1)(c) and (d), the amount of carbon dioxide emitted over a thirty-year period based on the proposed increase in the amount of electrical output of the facility that exceeds the station generation capability of the facility prior to the applicant applying for certification pursuant to RCW 80.70.020(1), new equipment heat rate, an assumed sixty percent capacity factor for facilities under EFSEC's jurisdiction, and taking into account any enforceable limitations on operational hours or fuel types and use.