On March 13, 2008, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law the Climate Action and Green Jobs bill (House Bill 2815), which authorizes Washington officials to work with the Western Climate Initiative, a partnership of six states and two Canadian provinces, to develop a regional greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system.

Under the bill, the state’s largest greenhouse gas emitters are required to report their releases. This applies to owners or operators of a fleet of on-road motor vehicles that emits at least 2,500 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year in Washington (i.e. trucking and delivery fleets, rental car companies, large customer service fleets [such as phone, cable or power companies] and large government-agency fleets), and a source or combination of sources that emits at least 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year in the state (i.e. refineries, pulp and paper mills, cement kilns, some lumber mills, large food processors, and some entities that use fossil fuels to generate power, steam, heat or cooling - and some large fleets of aircraft, marine vessels or rail equipment). You can read more about this HERE. 

The Washington Department of Ecology has been working on the above proposed stipulations since 2008, as directed by lawmakers as part of the passed legislation which called for Ecology to adopt a rule for developing and implementing an emissions reporting system.

Ecology's proposed rule is available for public review and comment, and everyone here in Spokane will have an opportunity this coming up Tuesday night to review and comment at a hearing that will be held at 6 p.m. at Ecology’s Eastern Regional Office, 4601 N. Monroe St.

"The purpose of this rule is to develop a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state by establishing a reporting system for emissions of greenhouse gases, as required by law", said Jani Gilbert, Communications Manager of Ecology's Eastern Region office here in Spokane.  "An inventory of greenhouse gas emissions will support the legislature's intent to limit and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases."

If you can't make it (election night) - Ecology will accept public comments on the proposed rule through Nov. 12. Send written comments to Nancy Pritchett, Air Quality Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. E-mail comments to npri461@ecy.wa.gov.

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