Washington State Sets Statewide GHG Emissions Targets, Performance Standard for Electricity

Washington State Sets Statewide GHG Emissions Targets, Performance Standard for Electricity

On May 3, 2007, Governor Christine Gregoire of Washington signed SB 6001, setting into law statewide greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals and strategies originally announced in a February 2007 executive order. The new law commits Washington to reduce statewide emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035, and 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, as well as to the creation of thousands of new jobs in the clean energy sector by 2020. The bill directs the Governor’s office to develop policy recommendations for how the state can achieve these goals, including, among others, the possible implementation of market mechanisms such as a cap and trade system, carbon sequestration projects, replacing high-emitting electricity generation with newer technologies, and the improvement of regulatory and tax policies. The recommendations must be submitted to the legislature for consideration in 2008. SB 6001 also establishes a GHG performance standard for all new, long-term baseload electric power generation. Under the standard, all baseload generation for which utilities enter into long-term contracts must meet a greehouse gas emissions standard of 1,100 pounds per megawatt-hour beginning in July 2008.

Press Release
SB 6001
Map of States with Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets