PRINTER'S NO. 4182
No. 2744 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY VITALI, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CURRY, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GOODMAN, JOSEPHS, LaGROTTA, LEACH, PETRONE, PISTELLA, RUBLEY, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, TANGRETTI, WALKO, WANSACZ AND WOJNAROSKI, JUNE 12, 2006
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JUNE 12, 2006
AN ACT 1 Amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania 2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for municipal climate change 3 action plans and for grants to municipalities; and making an 4 appropriation. 5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 6 hereby enacts as follows: 7 Section 1. Title 27 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated 8 Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read: 9 CHAPTER 65 10 MUNICIPAL CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLANS 11 Sec. 12 6501. Definitions. 13 6502. Grants. 14 6503. Report. 15 § 6501. Definitions. 16 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter 17 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
1 context clearly indicates otherwise: 2 "Climate change." Changes in the earth's climate due, in 3 part, to emissions of greenhouse gases associated with human 4 activities. 5 "Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of 6 the Commonwealth. 7 "Greenhouse gases." Gases and other air pollutants in the 8 earth's atmosphere that reflect and trap infrared radiation or 9 otherwise contribute to increases in infrared radiation in the 10 atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, 11 hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, 12 carbon hexafluoride and carbon black. 13 "Municipal climate change action plan." A plan created by a 14 municipality that does all of the following: 15 (1) Identifies greenhouse gas emission trends and 16 baselines in the municipality. 17 (2) Determines cost-effective strategies for reducing 18 greenhouse gas emissions from various sectors in the 19 municipality, both public and private. 20 (3) Establishes specific reduction targets for 21 greenhouse gas emissions in the municipality. 22 "Municipal greenhouse gas inventory." An accounting of 23 greenhouse gases emitted in a municipality from all sources 24 delineated by major sectors, including transportation, 25 industrial, residential and energy production. 26 "Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town, 27 township or home rule municipality. 28 § 6502. Grants. 29 (a) Grant program established.--There is hereby established 30 in the department the Municipal Climate Change Action Plan Grant 20060H2744B4182 - 2 -
1 Program. 2 (b) Purpose of grants.--The department shall award grants to 3 provide financial assistance to a municipality or a group of 4 municipalities for the preparation of municipal greenhouse gas 5 inventories and municipal climate change action plans. 6 (c) Grant amount.--A grant to any one municipality under 7 this chapter shall be no more than $20,000 annually or, in the 8 case of a group of municipalities, no more than $20,000 annually 9 multiplied by the number of municipalities in the group. 10 (d) Application form.--A grant application shall be made on 11 a form prepared and furnished by the department. The application 12 shall contain the information the department deems necessary to 13 carry out the provisions of this chapter. 14 § 6503. Report. 15 A municipality or a group of municipalities that is awarded a 16 grant under this chapter shall provide to the department a copy 17 of the municipal greenhouse gas inventory and the municipal 18 climate change action plan upon their respective completion. One 19 year after the completion of the municipal climate change action 20 plan, the municipality or group of municipalities shall provide 21 a report to the department on the implementation and 22 effectiveness of the municipal climate change action plan. 23 Section 2. The sum of $300,000 is hereby appropriated to the 24 Department of Environmental Protection for the fiscal year July 25 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, to carry out the provisions of 27 26 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65. 27 Section 3. The Department of Environmental Protection may 28 promulgate rules and regulations to administer the provisions of 29 27 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65. 30 Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately. E9L27AJM/20060H2744B4182 - 3 -