Download Slide 1

State of Georgia’s Climate Action
2nd Georgia Air Quality
And
Climate Summit
May 6-7, 2008
Chuck Mueller
Senior Policy Advisor
Georgia DNR-EPD
Page 1
State Energy Strategy
• December 14, 2006 – Governor’s Energy Policy
Council submits State Energy Strategy to Governor
Purdue
• Contains detailed policy objectives and
implementation strategies that address many of
Georgia’s current and future energy concerns
• Identified five key themes that best embody the
overall direction of the Strategy
Page 2
State Energy Strategy
• Key Theme 5: Continue Prudent Energy Planning for the
State – Georgia should maintain and improve its high quality
of life and its reputation as a desirable place to do business by
updating the State Energy Strategy on a periodic basis and
supporting the recommendations developed through this
public and stakeholder-driven consensus-based process.
• Prepare for carbon markets and potential regulations of
the future by developing a Georgia greenhouse gas
inventory (Strategy 6.8) and greenhouse gas registry
(Strategy 6.9) and evaluating financial risk to Georgia
from federal carbon regulation (Strategy 1.2)
Page 3
Chapter 6: Energy and the
Environment Section 4: Climate
Policy Objective – Prepare for Potential Federal
Climate Change Policies
Strategy 6.8 – Develop And Publish a Greenhouse Gas
Inventory for the State Every Three Years
Strategy 6.9 – Consider a Greenhouse Gas Registry
Strategy 6.10 – Work With Georgia Local Governments
That Choose to Set Voluntary Targets to Reduce
Carbon Emission
Page 4
Strategy 6.8 – Develop and Publish
GHG Inventory
• Georgia last developed a GHG inventory in 1999
• EPD is currently required to develop and submit a
statewide emissions inventory to EPA every three
years for a number of pollutants
• The development of a greenhouse gas emissions
inventory will be done concurrent with that process
• Updated report is in the process of being reviewed
right now and should be available shortly
Page 5
Strategy 6.9 – Consider a GHG
Registry
• A greenhouse gas registry is a database where
entities that emit greenhouse gases can register
and record their respective emissions and
reductions of greenhouse gases
• Georgia was one of the founding Board members of
The Climate Registry and is actively involved in the
development of the organizations protocols
Page 6
The Climate Registry
• On May 8, 2007, more than 30 states signed on as charter
members of The Climate Registry, a collaboration aimed at
developing a common system for entities to report
greenhouse gas emissions
• As of February 2008, the Registry has 39 state members
• In addition to the states the following entities have also joined
the Registry
• Tribes: the Campo Kumeyayy Nation, Pueblo of Acoma and
Southern Ute Indian
• Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec,
Saskatchewan, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and New
Brunswick
• Mexican States: Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo
Leon, Sonora and Tamaulipas
Page 7
Page 8
The Climate Registry
• A tool to measure, track, verify and publicly report
greenhouse gas emissions consistently and
transparently between states
• The largest climate initiative in North America
▪ Covers 80% of population of North America
• Policy neutral—leave policy to the states
• The recognized platform in North America
• Its about precise accurate measurement
▪ Critical first step to address climate change
▪ This is one thing that states can agree on
Page 9
Fundamental Program Principles
•
•
•
•
•
Entity-wide facility-level reporting
All six GHGs
Reporting all direct and indirect emissions
North American reporting
Third-party verification
Page 10
Benefits for reporters
•
A cost effective means to measure GHG emissions
•
Document early actions
•
Prepare for federal reporting
•
Education for employees on GHG emissions
•
Save money on energy
•
Access to software and technical support
•
Recognition as a global environmental leader
Page 11
Timelines
• General Reporting Protocol
▪ Public input received November through February
▪ Final version released March 31st
• Verification protocol
▪ First draft released for public comment on
February 1.
▪ Final version released May 1
• Software launch, fully operational: June 30
Page 12
How to participate
• Submit signed Statement of Intent
• Pay fee
• Recognition as a founding reporter—if signed up by
May 1, 2008 (Over 180 have signed up so far)
• More information available at
www.TheClimateRegistry.org
Page 13
Strategy 6.10 – Work with Georgia
Local Governments
•
•
On June 13, 2005, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed the
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement unanimously.
As of January 2008, over 600 mayors have accepted the challenge,
including the following 8 from Georgia:
▪ Arthur Letchas of Alpharetta,
▪ Heidi Davison of Athens,
▪ Shirley Franklin of Atlanta,
▪ Deke Copenhaver of Augusta,
▪ Bill Floyd of Decatur,
▪ Joe Macon of East Point,
▪ C. Jack Ellis of Macon, and
▪
Jason Buelterman of Tybee Island.
Page 14
Strategy 1.2 – Evaluate State Risk
Posed by Possible Federal Carbon
Regulations
• GEFA, the Georgia PSC and EPD should conduct a joint
study of the potential impact of proposals to regulate carbon
emissions on Georgia’s utilities and ratepayers.
• This assessment should document the current carbon dioxide
emissions from Georgia electric generating units, forecast
future emissions from these facilities and evaluate the
economic impact on Georgia from possible carbon
regulations.
• The study should commence once EPD has completed an
updated greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Georgia
Page 15
Contact Information
Chuck Mueller
Senior Policy Advisor
Georgia EPD
(404) 657-5949
[email protected]
Page 16
Page 17