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Federalism to the Rescue: U.S. State and Municipal Climate Change Policy

Federalism to the Rescue: U.S. State and Municipal Climate Change Policy. Spring 2011 Jean Monnet Symposium The Nexus of Global Climate Change and Energy: Transatlantic Perspectives. Stanley J. Kabala, PhD Center for Environmental Research and Education Duquesne University 412-396-4233

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Federalism to the Rescue: U.S. State and Municipal Climate Change Policy

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  1. Federalism to the Rescue:U.S. State and MunicipalClimate Change Policy Spring 2011 Jean Monnet Symposium The Nexus of Global Climate Change and Energy: Transatlantic Perspectives Stanley J. Kabala, PhD Center for Environmental Research and Education Duquesne University 412-396-4233 kabala@duq.edu

  2. Where We Find Ourselves …On July 28, 2003, I called the threat of catastrophic global warming the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people…“ U.S. Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla), January 4, 2005

  3. Where We Find Ourselves McConnell Amendment to S. 493 Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) • Identical to: • S. 492 Energy Tax Prevention Act • H.R. 910 Energy Tax Prevention Act • Possible vote on March 30, 2011

  4. Where We Find Ourselves Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 (HR 910) Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich), Chair, Energy and Commerce Committee • Exempts CO2 and other heat-trapping gases from CAA definition of “air pollutant” • Thus, in effect, overturns Massachusetts v. EPA[Section 2, adding CAA Section 330(a), (b)(1)] • Repeals EPA’s ”endangerment” determination  [Section 2, adding CAA Section 330(b)(4)(A)] • Blocks EPA carbon pollution performance standards for: • Power plants: 2.4 billion T C02/y (40% U.S. total) • Oil refineries: hundreds of millions of tons • Any industries [Section 2, adding CAA Section 330(b)(1)(A), (b)(4)(K)]

  5. Massachusetts v. EPA Background • 1999 petition to EPA • regulate new vehicle GHG • CAA “endangerment” of public health & welfare • 2003 EPA denial of petition: No CAA authority to do so • D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals • Plaintiff: 2 states, 3 cities, 2 terr., several NGOs • Opposing: USEPA, auto and truck related groups • Suit rejected because: EPA Administrator has discretion re CAA Plaintiffs lack standing

  6. Massachusetts v. EPA • Supreme Court 5 - 4 decision April 2, 2007 • Massachusetts had standing to sue • Ruling favor of petitioners on all 3 issues • “Injury”: Massachusetts loss of shoreline • “Causation”: Traceable to defendant • “Redressability”: Regulation to reduce warming • Discretion: EPA Administrator’s judgment to on policy issues • CAA Sec. 202 “sweeping definition” • any air pollutant • any substance

  7. U.S. EPA Mandatory Reportingof Greenhouse Gases Rule(CFR 40 Part 98) • 12/17/10 • 85 - 90% of U.S. GHG emissions • Emitters >25,000 MT/year • 2010 reports due 9/30/11 (initially 3/31/11) • Data to be made public by end of 2011 • “…Provide high-quality data” (to) help industries & businesses…be more efficient and save money, and be useful to Congress, state agencies, NGOs, & public.” (SJK, ed.)

  8. U.S. responses to Kyoto Protocol 1998 – 2006 1998 Byrd-Hagel Senate Resolution (S. Res. 98) • No harm to U.S. economy • Require action by LDCs • Adopted 95-0 • “Don’t bother to send treaty to Senate for ratification” 2002 Bush Administration: Reduce GHG intensity 18% by 2012 2003 McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act Cap GHG emissions 2006 Senate Amendment 866 (Bingaman, D-NM) adopted 53/44 National, mandatory, market-based limits to slow, stop, and reverse growth of GHG emissions without harming the U.S. economy

  9. U.S. State ResponsesThe California Lead 2000: The Pavley Act Premise: 40% California GHG emissions due to passenger vehicles & light trucks Goal: 30% GHG reduction over 8 years for new autos and light trucks Activation: Adopt by 1/1/2005 Enforce by 1/1/2006 In effect: 2009 model year

  10. U.S. State ResponsesThe California Lead June 2005: Executive Order of the Governor GHG Emissions Reduction Targets • 2010: 2000 Level • 2020: 1990 Level (~25% below 2005) • 2050: 20% of 1990 Level

  11. U.S. State Responses:The California Lead Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 • Cap on GHG from major industrial sources • GHG listed in Kyoto Protocol • Penalties for non-compliance • Emissions reduction to 1990 level by 2020 • CARB cap-and-trade program 2012 - 2020

  12. U.S. Regional GHG Initiatives • New England Governors’ CCAP (2001) GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2010 and 10% < 1990 levels by 2020 • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (2003) Stabilize CO2 emissions at 121.3 short tons by 2015, reduce <105 short tons by 2020 • Western Climate Initiative (2007) GHG emissions 15% < 2005 levels by 2020

  13. RegionalGreenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) • Cooperative effort: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont • $860.9 million of CO2 permit sales proceeds going toward strategic energy programs • http://www.rggi.org/rggi • http://www.rggi.org/rggi_benefits

  14. RGGI Program design and approach * Multi-state cap-and-trade program * Initial focus: CO2 only * Target: electricity generators >25 MW * Scheduled cap reduction: 2.5%/year * Reduction by 2018: 10% * Energy affordability and reliability considered * Tool: interstate trading of carbon credits * Expandable: more states, more allowances

  15. Western Climate Initiative • Regional cap-and-trade system • Reduce GHG 15% below 2005 levels by 2020 • State-specific goals and climate action plans • Signatories: Arizona, British Columbia, California, Manitoba, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Ontario, Quebec, Utah, Washington • Implementation anticipated in January 2012

  16. Western Climate Initiative

  17. Western Climate Initiative State GHG Emissions Goals Short termMedium termLong term 2101 – 2012 by 2020 2040 – 2050 Arizona ----- 2000 levels 50% 2000 by 2040 Br. Columbia ----- 33% below 2007 ----- California 2000 levels 1990 levels 80% 1990 by 2050   by 2010 Manitoba 6% below 1990 6% below 1990 ----- New Mexico 2000 levels 10% below 2000 75% 2000 by 2050 by 2012 Oregon Arrest growth 10% below 1990 75% below 1990 by 2050 Utah ----- Set goals by 6/08 ----- Washington ----- 1990 levels 50% of 1990 by 2050

  18. Safe Climate Act of 2007 HR 1590 (Henry Waxman, D-Ca.) Emissions • 2009 Frozen • 2010 – 2020 Cut 2% per year, to 1990 levels • 2020 – 2050 Cut 5% per year, to 80% < 1990 levels Actions • Cap-and-trade program for largest polluters • Allowance sales proceeds to Climate Reinvestment Fund • EPA standards for vehicle GHG =/> California’s, tightened in 2014 and periodically thereafter • DOE national standards for electricity requiring: • share from renewable sources to reach 20% by 2020 • utilities to obtain each year 1% of energy supply via efficiency improvements to customer facilities

  19. Renewable/Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards 33 states and D.C Colorado (2004) 30% by 2020 California 20% by 2010 33% by 2020 (3/28/11) Maine 40% by 2017 New Jersey 22.5% by 2021 New York 29% by 2015 Penna. (2004) 18% by 2020 • 8% from tier 1 sources • 10 % from tier 2 sources

  20. PennsylvaniaClimate Change Response Act 35 (2007) • 850MW of solar power generated in Pa. by 2020 • Utilities plan to meet alternative energy target • Alternative energy credits remain the property of alternative energy system generating them Pa. Climate Change Act, Act 70 (2008) • PADEP periodic reports • GHG emissions inventory • Climate change Advisory Committee • Voluntary GHG registry • Climate change action plan

  21. Pa. Climate ChangeAdvisory Committee • Non-binding 2020 goal: GHG 30% < 2000 • “Robust” 2020 policies: GHG =/< 38% 2000 • Improved building energy efficiency • Expanded energy effic./conserv. programs • Improved/expanded public transportation • Enhanced land conservation, urban forestry

  22. U.S. MayorsClimate Protection Agreement • Launched 2/16/2005 (the day the Kyoto Protocol came in to effect) • 500 Mayors signed by 2007 • Cities whose mayors signed • the agreement

  23. U.S. MayorsClimate Protection Agreement • Participating cities commit to: • Meet/beat Kyoto Protocol targets via anti-sprawl land-use policies, urban forest restoration, information campaigns • Urge state and federal action to meet/beat Kyoto Protocol GHG emissions reduction for U.S.: 7% < 1990 by 2012 • Urge Congress to establish a national GHG emissions trading system • http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm

  24. U.S. Climate Action Partnershiphttp://www.us-cap.org/ • Members: • Corporations • Environmental organizations • Goal: • Strong federal legislation requiring significant reductions of GHG • Tool: • Principles and recommendations on on climate change policy

  25. U.S. Climate Action Partnership Members • NGOs • Environmental Defense Fund • Natural Resources Defense Council • Pew Center on Global Climate Change • The Nature Conservancy • World Resources Institute • Corporations • AES • Alcoa • Alstom • Boston Scientific Corporation Chrysler • The Dow Chemical Company • Duke Energy • DuPont • Exelon Corporation • Ford Motor Company • General Electric • Honeywell • Johnson & Johnson • NextEra Energy • NRG Energy • PepsiCo • PG&E Corporation • PNM Resources • Rio Tinto • Shell • Siemens Corporation • Weyerhaeuser

  26. Pittsburgh Climate Initiative • Adopted by City Council in August 2008 • 2003: Pgh. emitted 6.6 million tons CO2 • Goal: Cut GHG emissions 20% by 2023 • Collaborative, multi-sectoral • Municipal • Community • Business • Higher Education • http://pittsburghclimate.org/

  27. Local Response ICLEI 5 milestone approach: • Baseline emissions inventory and forecast. • Emissions reduction target. • Climate Action Plan. • Policies/measures. • Monitoring and verification

  28. PADEP Response Local Government Greenhouse Gas Pilot Grant Program • ALLEGHENY COUNTY • Wilkins Township (with Forest Hills and Penn Hills) • Mt. Lebanon • BUCKS COUNTY • Bucks County Multi-Municipal Program • BUTLER COUNTY • Cranberry Township • CENTRE COUNTY • Centre Region Greenhouse Gas Pilot Grant • CRAWFORD COUNTY • Meadville • DELAWARE COUNTY • Swarthmore Region

  29. Wilkins Township et al • Municipal clients Wilkins Twp., Pa. Penn Hills, Pa. Forest Hills, Pa. • Technical support Duquesne University CERE • Products: GHG inventories Climate Action Plans

  30. Local ResponseWilkins Township

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