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Wisconsin Governor Creates New Global Warming Task Force, Office of Energy Independence
On April 5, 2007, Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin signed two new executive orders as part of the state’s efforts to address climate change and energy issues. The first executive order creates the Task Force on Global Warming, which will investigate the potential economic and environmental impacts of climate change on Wisconsin and recommend possible solutions and strategies for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the state. It will also work with other government agencies to derive an estimate of current statewide emissions. The Task Force will include members from business, industry, government, energy, and environmental organizations. In a second executive order, Governor Doyle created a new Office of Energy Independence which will coordinate efforts to bolster the state’s bioindustry, energy efficiency, and energy independence initiatives. In collaboration with Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission, the office will work with utilities to build a clean coal electric generation facility in the state.
Press Release
Map of States with Climate Change Commissions
West Virginia Establishes Greenhouse Gas Inventory
On April 4, 2007, Governor Joe Manchin III of West Virginia signed legislation establishing a new net greenhouse gas inventory for the state that covers emissions, reductions, and sequestration of six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydroflurocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. The inventory covers all major stationary, area and mobile sources, such as power plants, waste combustors, natural gas/oil systems, landfills, and waste water treatment facilities, highway and non-road sources, and agricultural sources and shall account for geologic and terrestrial carbon sequestration. The legislation also creates a registry for the reporting of voluntary reductions of greenhouse gas emissions if the reductions are made before they are required by law, and will include the development of criteria for establishing baseline emissions, quantifying emission reductions and providing public recognition of reductions.
Read the Legislation
Arkansas Governor Establishes Global Warming Commission
On April 3, 2007, Governor Mike Beebe of Arkansas established a Governor's Commission on Global Warming with the signing of HB2460. The commission will study the potential impacts of climate change on the state’s environment and economy, and then recommend a global warming pollutant reduction goal and strategies for achieving it. Commission members will include representatives from the state government as well as many groups including scientific, energy, forestry, agricultural, and environmental organizations, among others. The Commission must report its findings by November 1, 2008.
Read HB2460
Map of States with Climate Change Commissions
Colorado Governor Signs New Renewable Electricity Legislation
On March 27, 2007, Gov. Bill Ritter of Colorado signed into law two pieces of legislation designed to promote renewable electricity use in the state. House Bill 1281 increases Colorado’s existing renewable portfolio standard, doubling the renewable electricity requirement for large investor-owned utilities such as Xcel Energy from 10 percent by 2015 to 20 percent by 2020. In addition, HB 1281 requires municipal utilities and rural electric providers, which had no such requirements under the original amendment, to provide 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Senate Bill 100 promotes wind power generation by requiring electric utilities subject to rate regulation to identify high-potential wind-energy locations currently lacking necessary transmission capacity, and then develop plans to install it. The bill allows utilities to recover the costs of transmission construction.
Press Release
Map of States with Renewable Portfolio Standards
New Mexico Expands Renewable Electricity Generation, Promotes Clean Energy
On March 5, 2007, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico signed into law two new pieces of legislation designed to bolster the state’s use of renewable power and clean energy sources. Senate Bill 418 mandates that, by 2015, 15% of an electric utility’s power generation derive from renewable sources such as solar and wind, and 20%must come from renewable sources by 2020. This legislation expands on New Mexico’s current renewable portfolio standard requiring that 10% of the state’s energy come from such sources by 2011. House Bill 188 establishes a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to help New Mexico export renewable energy and further develop the state’s high-tech clean energy economy and job market.
Press Release
Map of States with Renewable Portfolio Standards
SB 418
HB 188
Five Western States Establish New Regional Initiative
On February 26, 2007, Governors Napolitano of Arizona, Schwarzenegger of California, Richardson of New Mexico, Kulongoski of Oregon, and Gregoire of Washington signed an agreement establishing the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, a joint effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. Under the agreement, the five states will jointly set a regional emissions target within six months, and by August 2008 will establish a market-based system – such as a cap-and-trade program covering multiple economic sectors – to aid in meeting the target. The states will also set up an emissions registry and tracking system. The initiative builds on work already undertaken individually by the participating states, each of which has already set its own emissions reductions goals.
Press Release
Map of Regional Initiatives
Map of States with Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
Minnesota Passes New Renewable Energy Standard
On February 22, 2007, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed into law a new renewable energy requirement for his state. The law mandates that 25 percent of Minnesota’s power come from renewable sources by 2025. Xcel Energy, which currently generates about half the state’s electricity, will be required to produce 30 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020. Such sources include wind, biomass, hydrogen, and solar power.
Press Release
Read the Legislation
Map of States with Renewable Portfolio Standards
South Carolina Governor Establishes Climate, Energy, and Commerce Advisory Committee
On February 16, 2007, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina established the Governor’s Climate, Energy, and Commerce Advisory Committee. The committee is to consider the possible impacts of climate change on South Carolina and recommend strategies for addressing it. Members will include up to 30 representatives from a number of business, energy, industry, government, and environmental groups, among others. The committee will consider building efficiency measures, greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, and other energy policy options that may present economic opportunities for the state. The committee’s final recommended action plan is due to the Governor by March 2008.
Press Release
Executive Order 2007-04
Map of States with Climate Change Commissions
Governor Establishes New Emissions Targets for New Jersey
On February 13, 2007, Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey signed an executive order establishing new greenhouse gas emissions targets for the state of 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050. The order directs the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to spend the next six months developing a plan for achieving the emissions goals. New Jersey will need to develop some new initiatives, but the state already has in place a number of climate and energy policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the state is already a member of the Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first multi-state agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. New Jersey also requires its electric utilities to obtain 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. The state has also committed to California's vehicle greenhouse gas standards.
Press Release and Executive Order
Map of States with Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
Illinois Governor Sets Statewide Greenhouse Gas Targets
On February 13, 2007, Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois announced new statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets of cutting the state’s emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The Governor’s Climate Change Advisory Group, formed late last year, is also planning to meet and begin a six-month discussion on the best strategies for the state to pursue in addressing climate change and meeting its new emission reductions goals. The Advisory Group includes representatives from business, labor, industrial, scientific, environmental, and consumer groups.
Press Release
Map of States with Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
Washington Governor Establishes New Climate Change Initiative, Emissions Targets
On February 7, 2007, Governor Chris Gregoire of Washington signed an executive order establishing greenhouse gas emissions targets for the state. Governor Gregoire’s order calls for the state to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035, and 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, a 70 percent reduction below business-as-usual projections. The order also directs the Washington Department of Ecology and Community, Trade and Economic Development to move forward with the Washington Climate Change Challenge, a one-year process designed to consider the full range of policy options that may be enacted to achieve the state’s targets. The Governor also called for the full implementation of existing Washington laws that together could account for 60 percent of the 2020 emissions target. These existing laws include vehicle GHG emission standards, building efficiency standards, and biofuel and renewable energy initiatives.
Press Release
Executive Order 07-02
Read the Washington Climate Change Challenge
Map of States with Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
Map of States with Climate Change Commissions
Rhode Island to Join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
In his State of the State address on January 30, 2007, Governor Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island announced plans for his state to join the northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the first multi-state greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program in the U.S. The Governor’s announcement comes less than two weeks after Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick pledged to join the agreement, making Rhode Island the final New England state to join RGGI. Other participants include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, with Maryland scheduled to join later this year. As members of RGGI, states agree to a regional cap-and-trade program covering power plant emissions. RGGI aims to cap these emissions at approximately current levels between 2009 and 2015, and then reduce this level 10% by 2019.
Read Governor Carcieri's State of the State Address
RGGI Website
More Information on RGGI
Map of Regional Initiatives
Massachusetts to Join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
On January 18, 2007, Governor Deval Patrick announced that Massachusetts will be joining the northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the first multi-state greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program in the U.S. Current participants include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, with Maryland scheduled to join later this year. As members of RGGI, states agree to a regional cap-and-trade program covering power plant emissions. RGGI aims to cap these emissions at approximately current levels between 2009 and 2015, and then reduce this level 10% by 2019.
Press Release
RGGI Website
More Information on RGGI
Map of Regional Initiatives
California to Establish World's First GHG Fuel Standard
On January 9, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger pledged that he would establish the world’s first Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). It will apply to all transportation fuels sold in California, with the goal of reducing the carbon intensity of California’s passenger vehicle fuels at least 10 percent by 2020. The LCFS includes provisions for market-based mechanisms – such as carbon credit trading – that will allow fuel providers to meet the new requirements in the most cost-effective manner. The standard is expected to substitute low-carbon fuels for up to 20 percent of current vehicle gasoline consumption and greatly expand the number of alternative and hybrid vehicles in the state. It will also aid California as it seeks to meet its targets under AB 32, the historic legislation enacted in September 2006 that requires the state to achieve 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2020.
Press Release
Executive Order S-01-07 (signed January 18, 2007)
Richardson Adopts Climate Advisory Group Recommendations
On December 28, 2006, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed an executive order designed to help New Mexico achieve its state targets of reducing GHG emissions to 2000 levels by 2012, 10 percent below 2000 levels by 2020 and 75 percent below 2000 levels by 2050. The order carries out some of the recommendations of the state's Climate Change Advisory Group, including the creation of a GHG registry and a market-based emission reduction program, the advancement of carbon capture and storage technology, and the promotion of renewable fuels, green buildings, and energy efficient appliances. The executive order also creates a Climate Change Action Implementation Team to oversee the completion of these recommendations. The state expects that the recommendations will save $2 billion by 2020.
Press Release and Executive Order 2006-69
District of Columbia Becomes First City to Adopt Green Buildings Standards
On Tuesday, December 5, the District of Columbia Council voted to require that new development adhere to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standards, making Washington D.C. the first major city in the nation to mandate green buildings standards. Starting in 2012, the regulations will apply to all new construction or renovation projects of 50,000 square feet or more; city-owned commercial property must adopt the standards in 2008. The legislation is among the most aggressive green buildings measures in the country.
Press Release
Read the Legislation
Read about the LEED Building Standards
Four Western Utility Commissions Combine Climate Efforts
On December 1, 2006, the heads of utility commissions from four western states – California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington – met in San Francisco to sign an agreement to work together in addressing climate change. Under the Joint Action Framework on Climate Change, the states’ public utilities commissions will collaborate to develop recommendations on how to promote various energy and climate policies in areas including energy efficiency, carbon capture and sequestration, and renewable energy. Officials are hopeful that other western states will sign on to the agreement.
Western Public Utility Commissions' Joint Action Framework on Climate Change
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