SB287: Bill Text

LRB-2264/3

RCT:cmh:jf

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Senate BILL 287

November 10, 1999 - Introduced by Senators Burke, Cowles, Clausing, Rosenzweig, Darling and Roessler, cosponsored by Representatives Kaufert, Bock, Turner, Plouff, Black, J. Lehman, Pocan, Miller and Sinicki. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Campaign Finance Reform.

SB287,1,2 An Act to create 285.78 of the statutes; relating to: registration of reductions in certain air emissions and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the department of natural resources (DNR) to establish and operate a system for registering reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases if the reductions are made before they are required by law. Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. The bill authorizes DNR to establish systems for registering reductions in fine particulate matter, mercury and other air contaminants.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB287, s. 1 Section 1. 285.78 of the statutes is created to read:

SB287,1,4 285.78 Registration of early emission reductions. (1) In this section:

SB287,1,6 (a) "Carbon reserve" means any system that takes in and stores more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases to the atmosphere.

SB287,2,3 (b) "Fine particulate matter" means solid or liquid particles with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers or emissions that are precursors to solid or liquid particles with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers.

SB287,2,6 (c) "Greenhouse gas" means carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydroflurocarbons, perflurocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride or any other gas that traps heat in the atmosphere.

SB287,2,16 (2) (a) The department shall establish and operate a system under which the department registers reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases if the reductions are made before the reductions are required by law. Under the system, the department may register carbon sequestration from the creation or preservation of carbon reserves and may register avoided emissions resulting from energy efficiency measures and from the use of renewable energy sources. Under the system, the department shall use 1990 as the base year for determining reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases, except that if a person seeking to register reductions under the system did not emit greenhouse gases in 1990, the department shall determine the base year for the person's emissions.

SB287,2,20 (b) The department may establish and operate systems under which the department registers reductions in emissions of fine particulate matter, mercury or other air contaminants identified by the department if the reductions are made before the reductions are required by law.

SB287,2,23 (c) The department may verify and quantify, or require the verification and quantification of, emission reductions that a person seeks to register under par. (a) or (b).

SB287,2,24 (d) Registration of emission reductions under this section is voluntary.

SB287,3,4 (3) (a) The department shall promulgate rules for the system under sub. (2) (a). In promulgating the rules, the department shall make the system as consistent as possible with other state, federal and international programs designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

SB287,3,8 (b) The department shall promulgate rules for any system that the department establishes under sub. (2) (b). In promulgating the rules, the department shall make the system as consistent as possible with other state, federal and international programs designed to reduce emissions of the substances covered by the system.

SB287,3,9 (End)