CARB Highlights 3 Early Action CO2 Measures

The California Air Resources Board gave top billing to the governor's proposed low-carbon fuel standard, along with two other measures, for their potential to slash greenhouse gases and qualify as "discrete early action measures." The air board also mentioned 33 other measures April 20 to help curb carbon emissions, which could be adopted as mandated rules as early as 2010. The California Climate Action Team released its proposals this week that seek to help meet the carbon-reduction mandates of AB 32, the state's greenhouse gas emissions law. Overlaps in the short-range and long-range measures proposed by the air board and Climate Action Team lists - including alternative fuels and smart-growth strategies - raised concerns. "Are we rearranging the furniture or are we redecorating?" asked Greg San Martin, Pacific Gas & Electric climate protection program manager. Western States Petroleum Association executive director Cathy Reheis-Boyd called for close coordination between agencies as they move forward in developing specific standards under AB 32. Others urged regulators to develop a cost-effectiveness metric before proceeding with regulations. "We can't afford to be chasing things that don't make any sense," said Dorothy Rothrock, California Manufacturers & Technology Association senior vice-president for government relations. The primary measures included in the Air Resources Board's trio of discrete early carbon-reduction actions as a result of AB 32 are improved capture of methane from landfills and a ban on over-the-counter sale of auto air conditioning system refrigerant. Along with the governor's push for a low-carbon fuel standard, the regulations are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by between 13 million and 26 million tons. That's out of an estimated 174 million tons a year of reductions required under the law by 2020. The transportation fuel standard is estimated to cut emissions by 10-20 million tons a year. Of the other 33 measures, 23 are estimated to decrease carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 20 million tons a year. Another 10 are aimed at smog-forming or toxic pollutants but are expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions too. Meanwhile, in a companion document also released April 20, the governor's multi-agency Climate Action Team outlined a long list of programs that other agencies are pursuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It included the California Public Utilities Commission's energy-efficiency standards for utilities, as well as California Energy Commission efficiency standards for buildings and appliances. Added in is the California Solar Initiative, which aims to place a million solar systems on rooftops up and down the state. On the team's list are procurement standards to ban state utilities from entering into new long-term power-procurement contracts with operators of coal-fired plants. The Climate Action Team document also outlines a plan by the Department of Water Resources to end its participation in the Reid Gardner coal power plant near Las Vegas when the agency's current contract expires in 2013. DWR uses power from the plant for pumping water across the state. The Climate Action Team expects these measures to be enforceable by 2010. It estimates that they would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 17 million tons a year. The team then lists numerous other measures it says would cut emissions by an additional 60 million tons a year after 2010. Those include a 33 percent renewable energy requirement and forestry carbon offset projects.

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CARB Highlights 3 Early Action CO2 Measures

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