Today the state Department of Ecology released its draft Clean Air Rule. The department’s press release states,
After working with industry, local governments, environmentalists, and the public to gain input on how to limit carbon pollution, the Washington Department of Ecology is now sharing details of the clean air rule. Ecology is seeking more feedback through public comment and stakeholder meetings to further refine the rule.
Here’s more about participation.
The public is invited to comment on the proposed rule through April 8, 2016. Comments also can be emailed to: aqcomments@ecy.wa.gov or mailed to: Stacey Callaway, Air Quality, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504.
Four public hearings on the rule will be held by webinar and in person throughout March.
The department says about 60 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions would be covered by the rule.
Natural gas distributors, petroleum fuel producers/importers, power plants, metal manufacturers, waste facilities and some other organizations responsible for 100,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases in Washington would be required to reduce their carbon emissions 5% every three years. In addition to gradually reducing their carbon pollution, organizations could obtain credits from other participants and carbon markets, or fund projects that reduce carbon pollution.
Ecology director Maia Bellon is quoted in the release.
“I’m a big believer in partnerships and now is the time for industry and the environmental community to collaborate with us on the best approach.”
Last August we wrote that the process might take a while, citing these comments from an Everett Herald story.
Stu Clark, the air quality program manager for the Department of Ecology, said his team must craft the rule essentially from scratch as there’s no template for such a regulatory feat.
“A complex rule like this can typically take us 18 months to 24 months to do,” he said. “It must be built from the bottom up. Everybody will get their say.”
The Associated Press report on the proposed rule notes the competing initiative carbon campaigns plowing similar ground.
Stu Clark, the air quality program manager for the Department of Ecology, said his team must craft the rule essentially from scratch as there’s no template for such a regulatory feat.
“A complex rule like this can typically take us 18 months to 24 months to do,” he said. “It must be built from the bottom up. Everybody will get their say.”
With carbon emissions likely to play a dominant role in the coming legislative session and 2016 campaigns, this op-ed we cited last month deserves another look. Association of Washington Business president Kris Johnson and Daren Konopaski, vice president and business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 302 wrote in the Everett Herald,
Employers and workers have made it abundantly clear they share the governor’s goal of lowering carbon emissions, even if they disagree about the effectiveness of the governor’s proposed carbon cap.
Also, as we wrote in our foundation report:
In terms of regulatory content, Washington regulations routinely exceed the minimums required by federal law… Policies to address climate change and water quality are frequently cited by employers as areas of uncertainty that can affect long-range planning…
While regulations ultimately reflect Washingtonians’ policy preferences, they should be regularly reviewed to see if, for example, the benefits justify the added costs of compliance.
The AP story includes this response to the proposed rule from the Association of Washington Business.
“There are elements that are concerning to us,” said Brandon Houskeeper, government affairs director with the Association of Washington Business, which represents most of those who would be covered by the proposed rule.
“Lowering the threshold means more entities would be covered by this rule. What signal does that send to businesses hoping to relocate to Washington?” he asked.
