States - Climate Extra

New Mexico governor to seek LCFS in 2021 legislative session

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is seeking passage this year of legislation establishing a low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) to help lower transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in the state, though officials do not plan to link the program with other states that have already established such standards. The LCFS legislation, which Grisham said in a Jan. 13 announcement is one of her priorities for the state’s legislative session this year, will potentially be modeled after programs already operating in...

States take halting steps on long-term climate targets

Several states across the country are making mixed progress on long-term greenhouse gas targets, with one governor offering a draft “roadmap” to achieve major carbon cuts, another state reporting meager progress toward its already-set goals and yet another failing to enact ambitious mid-century targets. The progress – or lack thereof – comes as President-elect Joe Biden is poised to take office next week amid expectations that he will reinvigorate federal efforts on climate mitigation. Yet many observers expect some states...

California Directive Heightens Debate Over Grid Reliability, Gas Plants

An unusual order by the president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for three major electric investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to immediately seek contracts to purchase additional electricity to ensure sufficient power over the next two summers is heightening debate over whether to approve additional energy from natural gas-fired plants. “I do find it surprising that the order mandates the IOUs to procure resources, including incremental gas and gas that is ‘at risk’ of retirement, with no record supporting a...

Newsom Proposes $1.5 Billion For California Clean Transportation, ZEVs

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is proposing to spend $1.5 billion in the coming fiscal year on clean transportation programs, including for the purchase of near-zero and zero-emission trucks, buses, off-road freight equipment as well as light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging infrastructure. “The proposal will support jobs and economic growth and provide air quality benefits and support for low-income Californians to purchase cleaner vehicles,” states a Jan. 5 press release from his office. “It will also support job-creating...

Former State Officials Urge Biden EPA Funding Hike, More Cooperation

A bipartisan group of more than 40 former state regulators is urging the incoming Biden EPA to significantly ramp up cooperation with states and tribes on environmental programs, while also warning that current federal and state funding resources are inadequate to tackle climate change and other major problems. The calls surface in a Dec. 21 memo to Michael Regan, who is currently serving as North Carolina’s top environment official and is President-elect Joe Biden’s planned nominee to lead EPA. The...

DOJ Details California-Quebec GHG Link Appeal, But Biden May Exit Case

The Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) is detailing its claims in an appeal over whether California’s greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program link to Quebec violates the Constitution, though sources say they expect the incoming Biden administration to withdraw the challenge in the coming months. President-elect Joe Biden is pushing an aggressive climate agenda and has supported states’ efforts to advance major climate programs such as cap-and-trade. Nonetheless, DOJ attorneys argue that California’s program linking to Quebec “transcends any traditional state responsibility,...

CPUC Approves Utilities’ RNG Tariff Amid Debate Over GHG, Climate Benefits

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is approving a novel customer opt-in renewable natural gas (RNG) tariff program for two major utilities amid debate among a variety of stakeholders over whether the fuel derived from landfills and agricultural facilities cuts greenhouse gases and helps the state meet its climate objectives. “The approval of the Renewable Natural Gas Tariff is an important step in achieving California’s climate goals,” states a Dec. 17 press release by Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), one...

Only Three States, D.C. Agree To Launch Transport Cap & Trade Program

Three states and the District of Columbia are the only jurisdictions that are formally committing to launch the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI), the nation’s first regional cap-and-trade program to cut transportation fuel greenhouse gases, with the forthcoming program slated to cut emissions 26 percent between 2022 and 2032. The governors of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut and the mayor of D.C. Dec. 21 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to join the program. Seven other states that signed the...

Wheeler Touts West Virginia’s Forthcoming ACE Compliance Strategy

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is applauding West Virginia and potentially other states for beginning to submit compliance strategies for the agency’s narrow Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) power plant greenhouse gas rule, arguing the move shows concrete progress on implementing the rule. “Our [GHG] rule that we put into effect last year, we are already seeing the first implementation plans coming in from the states. I believe West Virginia’s, if we don’t have it this week, we will have it in...

EDF says state GHG policies need more ambition

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in a new report is warning that states’ climate policies are not ambitious enough to reach mid-range goals set by United Nations climate experts that would put the globe on track to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. The Dec. 8 report uses emissions data from Rhodium Group to find that by 2030, 25 states and Puerto Rico are projected to cut GHGs by 11 percent from 2010 levels. However, the environmental group says...

Newsom Picks CPUC Member Randolph To Replace Nichols As CARB Chair

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has appointed state public utilities commissioner Liane Randolph as the new chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that implements the state’s aggressive suite of air and climate regulations, replacing long-time chief Mary Nichols. “I am beyond excited and honored to join the path-breaking team at CARB, which has been at the forefront of environmental progress for decades,” Randolph said in a Dec. 9 statement. “Gov. Newsom and the Legislature have set California on...

States, Environmentalists Detail Legal Attacks On EPA Methane Rollback

Democratic-led states and environmental groups are outlining their legal claims against EPA’s rule scrapping direct methane standards for the oil and gas sector, charging the agency relies on an unprecedented narrow view of its authority while ignoring prior conclusions on the need for controls and important reliance interests. The arguments surface in Dec. 8 opening briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in State of California, et al., v. Wheeler , which challenges EPA’s...

RGGI announces high GHG allowance price at latest auction

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gases in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states is reporting a relatively high carbon dioxide (CO2) allowance price at its latest auction, of $7.41 per allowance, raising $120.3 million for reinvestment by the 10 participating states in GHG reduction measures. “RGGI’s 50th quarterly auction marks a major milestone and rounds out another year of successful auctions, generating more than $120 million in proceeds for states to reinvest in clean energy, energy...

Various Groups Press CARB To Tighten Utilities’ 2030 GHG Target Range

Environmentalists, one major investor-owned utility and the wind power industry are urging California air officials to tighten an aggregate 2030 greenhouse gas target range for utilities, arguing that if the goal is not lowered the state is unlikely to meet its broader climate and clean power goals for 2030 and 2045. “Rapidly decarbonizing the electric sector is the backbone of the state’s climate plan, and [the California Air Resources Board (CARB)] must adopt GHG planning targets for California’s electricity providers...

California GHG Cap & Trade Auction Sells All Credits, Raises $500 Million

The latest California-Quebec greenhouse gas allowance auction sold all current and advance vintage credits offered for sale at above the floor price, raising about $500 million for the Golden State and demonstrating a strong demand from industry despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s harms to businesses. Results of the Nov. 17 auction , released Nov. 24 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), include that all of the approximately 56 million 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020 current year allowances offered for sale...

CARB Tightens Proposed Ride-Hailing GHG Targets, But Delays Board Vote

California air board officials are tightening proposed first-time greenhouse gas and “electric vehicle miles traveled” (eVMT) targets for transportation network companies (TNCs) operating ride-hailing services, while also adding new credit generation options and delaying a board vote on the novel rules from January to May. Staff with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) unveiled their latest draft proposal for the “Clean Miles Standard” regulation during a Nov. 19 webinar, providing an outline and summary in a slide presentation . Staff...

GM Drops Support For Trump Auto Preemption, Backs EV-Focused Rules

General Motors is dropping its legal support of the Trump EPA’s rule preempting California’s vehicle greenhouse gas standards and is now seeking to align itself with environmental groups, the Golden State and the incoming Biden administration in support of national standards and “complementary policies” to electrify the passenger vehicle fleet. GM CEO Mary Barra announced the move in a Nov. 23 letter to major environmental groups that also commits the company to “an all-electric, zero emission future.” “To better foster...

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