PRINTER'S NO. 1433
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
15
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY COSTA, FONTANA, WILLIAMS, STREET, HUGHES AND
TARTAGLIONE, JANUARY 26, 2018
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JANUARY 26, 2018
AN ACT
Providing for cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gas
emissions and for the powers and duties of the Environmental
Quality Board and the Department of Environmental Protection.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
Climate Change Mitigation Act.
Section 2. Findings.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Climate change caused by human action is a real and
significant threat to the health, welfare and economy of the
people of this Commonwealth and to the sustainability of our
way of life.
(2) Pennsylvania has been and remains a significant
emitter of greenhouse gases.
(3) As a trustee of this Commonwealth's natural
resources, the General Assembly has a constitutional duty to
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conserve and maintain these resources for future generations
and to safeguard Pennsylvanians' rights to clean air, pure
water and the values of a healthy environment.
(4) The most comprehensive scientific analysis has
determined that keeping global temperatures at or below 1.5º
Celsius over preindustrial levels is necessary to avoid the
worst impacts of climate change.
(5) Reducing Statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 30%
or more in 2025, compared to 2005 levels, is technologically
feasible and can be achieved cost effectively and with
significant net economic benefits for this Commonwealth.
(6) Consequently, the Commonwealth has a moral, ethical
and fiduciary responsibility to contribute to ongoing
international, national, State and local efforts to mitigate
climate change by reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases
by 30% or more in 2025, based on 2005 levels.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Baseline." The level of greenhouse gas emissions emitted
from all sources in this Commonwealth in 2005, expressed in tons
of carbon dioxide equivalent.
"Board." The Environmental Quality Board.
"Climate change action plan." The plan required under
section 7 of the act of July 9, 2008 (P.L.935, No.70), known as
the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act.
"Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
the Commonwealth.
"Greenhouse gases" or "GHGs." Gases in the earth's
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atmosphere that absorb and reemit infrared radiation, including
carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.
"Multistate target." A limit on greenhouse gas emissions
that applies to the total emissions of greenhouse gases in this
Commonwealth and one or more other jurisdictions, including
states and cities of the United States and the District of
Columbia.
Section 4. Environmental Quality Board.
The board shall have the power and its duties shall be to:
(1) Adopt by regulation a Statewide greenhouse gas
emissions limit, to be achieved by 2025, that is equivalent
to a level of emissions 30% or more below baseline emissions
or to adopt a multistate greenhouse gas emissions limit if
the board finds that the limit will:
(i) by 2025, achieve greater emission reductions
across all participating jurisdictions than would be
achieved in those jurisdictions if the Commonwealth
adopted its own limit; and
(ii) be more cost effective.
(2) In consultation with the Climate Change Advisory
Committee, develop and promulgate regulations necessary to
cost effectively meet the limit adopted under this section.
The regulations shall be consistent with the climate change
action plan and may include any of the following:
(i) Market-based mechanisms, such as the imposition
of emission caps and a system for the purchase,
redemption and trading of carbon dioxide allowances that
represent units of emissions.
(ii) Performance-based standards for sources of
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greenhouse gas emissions in the electric power,
transportation, building, industrial, commercial and
agricultural sectors.
(iii) Measures to reduce emissions from the electric
power sector by expanding generation from renewable
sources and increasing the energy efficiency of end uses
and transmission.
(iv) Measures to achieve long-term carbon
sequestration.
Section 5. Department of Environmental Protection.
The department shall have the power and its duties shall be:
(1) Within 90 days of the effective date of this
section, to determine and publish in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin the level of baseline emissions, following a public
comment process.
(2) To implement and enforce regulations promulgated by
the board under this act.
(3) Beginning three years after the effective date of
this section, to require that each climate change action plan
submitted by the department includes the following:
(i) An assessment of the progress toward meeting the
goals established under this act.
(ii) Recommendations that would result in more cost-
effective progress toward the goals established under
this act.
(iii) Recommendations for modifying the goals
established under this act to capture additional cost-
effective emission reductions and further emission
reductions to maintain global temperatures at or below
1.5º Celsius over preindustrial levels.
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Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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