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AB-2347 California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: emission reduction measures.(2011-2012)

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AB2347:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 29, 2012

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2011–2012 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2347

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Achadjian

February 24, 2012

An act to amend Section 38562 38505 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2347, as amended, Achadjian. California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: emission reduction measures.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The state board is required to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020, and to adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions. The act, requires the state board, when adopting those regulations to, among other things, minimize leakage and defines leakage to mean a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases within the state that is offset by an increase in emissions of greenhouse gases outside the state.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision additionally define leakage to mean a shift in jobs from within the state to locations outside of the state.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 38505 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

38505.
 For the purposes of this division, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) “Allowance” means an authorization to emit, during a specified year, up to one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.
(b) “Alternative compliance mechanism” means an action undertaken by a greenhouse gas emission source that achieves the equivalent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions over the same time period as a direct emission reduction, and that is approved by the state board. “Alternative compliance mechanism” includes, but is not limited to, a flexible compliance schedule, alternative control technology, a process change, or a product substitution.
(c) “Carbon dioxide equivalent” means the amount of carbon dioxide by weight that would produce the same global warming impact as a given weight of another greenhouse gas, based on the best available science, including from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
(d) “Cost-effective” or “cost-effectiveness” means the cost per unit of reduced emissions of greenhouse gases adjusted for its global warming potential.
(e) “Direct emission reduction” means a greenhouse gas emission reduction action made by a greenhouse gas emission source at that source.
(f) “Emissions reduction measure” means programs, measures, standards, and alternative compliance mechanisms authorized pursuant to this division, applicable to sources or categories of sources, that are designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
(g) “Greenhouse gas” or “greenhouse gases” includes all of the following gases:
(1) Carbon dioxide.
(2) Methane.
(3) Nitrous oxide.
(4) Hydrofluorocarbons.
(5) Perfluorocarbons.
(6) Sulfur hexafluoride.
(7) Nitrogen trifluoride.
(h) “Greenhouse gas emissions limit” means an authorization, during a specified year, to emit up to a level of greenhouse gases specified by the state board, expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.
(i) “Greenhouse gas emission source” or “source” means any source, or category of sources, of greenhouse gas emissions whose emissions are at a level of significance, as determined by the state board, that its participation in the program established under this division will enable the state board to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and monitor compliance with the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit.
(j) “Leakage” means a all of the following:
(1) A reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases within the state that is offset by an increase in emissions of greenhouse gases outside the state.
(2) A shift in jobs from within the state to locations outside of the state.
(k) “Market-based compliance mechanism” means either of the following:
(1) A system of market-based declining annual aggregate emissions limitations for sources or categories of sources that emit greenhouse gases.
(2) Greenhouse gas emissions exchanges, banking, credits, and other transactions, governed by rules and protocols established by the state board, that result in the same greenhouse gas emission emissions reduction, over the same time period, as direct compliance with a greenhouse gas emission emissions limit or emission emissions reduction measure adopted by the state board pursuant to this division.
(l) “State board” means the State Air Resources Board.
(m) “Statewide greenhouse gas emissions” means the total annual emissions of greenhouse gases in the state, including all emissions of greenhouse gases from the generation of electricity delivered to and consumed in California, accounting for transmission and distribution line losses, whether the electricity is generated in state or imported. Statewide emissions shall be expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.
(n) “Statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit” or “statewide emissions limit” means the maximum allowable level of statewide greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, as determined by the state board pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 38550).

SECTION 1.Section 38562 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
38562.

(a)On or before January 1, 2011, the state board shall adopt greenhouse gas emission limits and emission reduction measures by regulation to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in furtherance of achieving the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit, to become operative beginning January 1, 2012.

(b)In adopting regulations pursuant to this section and Part 5 (commencing with Section 38570), to the extent feasible and in furtherance of achieving the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit, the state board shall do all of the following:

(1)Design the regulations, including distribution of emissions allowances where appropriate, in a manner that is equitable, seeks to minimize costs and maximize the total benefits to California, and encourages early action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

(2)Ensure that activities undertaken to comply with the regulations do not disproportionately impact low-income communities.

(3)Ensure that entities that have voluntarily reduced their greenhouse gas emissions prior to the implementation of this section receive appropriate credit for early voluntary reductions.

(4)Ensure that activities undertaken pursuant to the regulations complement, and do not interfere with, efforts to achieve and maintain federal and state ambient air quality standards and to reduce toxic air contaminant emissions.

(5)Consider cost-effectiveness of these regulations.

(6)Consider overall societal benefits, including reductions in other air pollutants, diversification of energy sources, and other benefits to the economy, environment, and public health.

(7)Minimize the administrative burden of implementing and complying with these regulations.

(8)Minimize leakage.

(9)Consider the significance of the contribution of each source or category of sources to statewide emissions of greenhouse gases.

(c)In furtherance of achieving the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit, by January 1, 2011, the state board may adopt a regulation that establishes a system of market-based declining annual aggregate emission limits for sources or categories of sources that emit greenhouse gas emissions, applicable from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2020, inclusive, that the state board determines will achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, in the aggregate, from those sources or categories of sources.

(d)Any regulation adopted by the state board pursuant to this part or Part 5 (commencing with Section 38570) shall ensure all of the following:

(1)The greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved are real, permanent, quantifiable, verifiable, and enforceable by the state board.

(2)For regulations pursuant to Part 5 (commencing with Section 38570), the reduction is in addition to any greenhouse gas emission reduction otherwise required by law or regulation, and any other greenhouse gas emission reduction that otherwise would occur.

(3)If applicable, the greenhouse gas emission reduction occurs over the same time period and is equivalent in amount to any direct emission reduction required pursuant to this division.

(e)The state board shall rely upon the best available economic and scientific information and its assessment of existing and projected technological capabilities when adopting the regulations required by this section.

(f)The state board shall consult with the Public Utilities Commission in the development of the regulations as they affect electricity and natural gas providers in order to minimize duplicative or inconsistent regulatory requirements.

(g)After January 1, 2011, the state board may revise regulations adopted pursuant to this section and adopt additional regulations to further the provisions of this division.