New state rule would target largest greenhouse gas emitters

On the heels of a historic drought and the worst fire season in state history, the Washington Department of Ecology has begun writing a rule that would require the state’s largest polluters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The rule would apply to about three dozen businesses and organizations that produce 100,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases annually. The proposed list includes Avista Corp. and other natural gas utilities; Kaiser Aluminum; the city of Spokane’s waste to energy plant; gasoline and petroleum distributors; and some of the state’s largest municipal landfills, which release large amounts of methane. State officials said the list covers entities responsible for about 60 percent of Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Ecology will begin meeting with the polluters, tribes, environmental groups and others, with the goal of releasing a draft proposal by December. “This year’s record-setting drought and wildfires are sobering examples of what our future could look like if we don’t take action on climate change,” said Maia Bellon, director for the Department of Ecology. “We can’t afford the cost of inaction.” There are no cost estimates for the proposal at this point. Companies could take a variety of actions to reduce their emissions, including purchasing carbon offset credits, officials said. After failing to get legislation on his cap-and-trade plan to charge emissions from oil refineries, power plants and fuel suppliers, Gov. Jay Inslee said he would use his executive authority to develop a cap under the state’s Clean Air Act. In July, he directed the state Department of Ecology to come up with a binding limit on greenhouse gas emissions. The governor has said he believes a rule could be adopted by summer 2016.