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Many members of the Western Climate Initiative are moving to cut greenhouse gases and put laws and regulations in place to participate in a carbon cap-and-trade system. In Washington state, officials began circulating draft carbon cap-and-trade legislation January 12. The request for public comment is on the heels of a report outlining a plan for dovetailing climate change policy with economic development. “The plan describes changes we will make to transition to a green economy,” said Jay Manning, Washington Department of Ecology director. Its key features call for energy efficiency, improved public transit, better land-use planning, and a cap-and-trade system. Washington’s draft cap-and-trade bill would require the state to sell 10 percent of emissions allowances through auctions, although utilities would receive allowances for free. However, if they sold those allowances, they would have to use the proceeds to develop renewable energy facilities, promote energy efficiency, and reduce the energy bills of customers with up to 250 percent of federal poverty line income. The proposed cap-and-trade system would link to the planned WCI market. Last year, the northern state enacted legislation requiring greenhouse gas emissions to be cut to 1990 levels by 2020, with further cuts to 25 percent below the 1990 level by 2025 and 50 percent below that level by 2050. In other WCI action, British Columbia proposed draft mandatory greenhouse gas reporting rules in a step toward carrying out a law enacted last year to establish a provincial carbon cap-and-trade program. The reporting rules are to cover most sources of greenhouse gases beginning later this year. British Columbia also is developing greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles. The provincial law aims to cut greenhouse gases from their current emissions level at least 33 percent by 2020. On an interim basis, late last year British Columbia set a goal of cutting its greenhouse gas six percent by 2012 and 18 percent by 2016. Also in Canada, Ontario last month issued a report showing it has cut its total greenhouse gas emissions 6 percent since 2004, including a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from coal power plants. “We are proud of our progress,” said Ontario environment minister John Gerretsen. “But we still have a long way to go.” In December 2008, the provincial government also launched a consultative process aimed at developing a cap-and-trade program that would link to the WCI. In Manitoba, the provincial government set biodiesel standards last month. The standards--which set licensing and fuel quality requirements for producers--are needed to carry out the province’s biofuels policy, said Jim Rondeau, Manitoba science, technology, energy, and mines minister. Under provincial law, the state has rolled back taxes on sale of biodiesel, but not actually mandated sale of biodiesel. The fuel in the province typically is made with canola oil. Earlier this month, WCI itself held a series of technical meetings in Phoenix, Arizona, January 12-15. Representatives from member states and provinces discussed issues related to the power industry, economic modeling, and greenhouse gas reporting under the planned cap-and-trade plan.

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