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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 303                       PRINTER'S NO. 1487

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 266 Session of 2007


        INTRODUCED BY ERICKSON, BOSCOLA, C. WILLIAMS, RAFFERTY,
           WONDERLING, COSTA, GREENLEAF, MUSTO, STACK, FERLO, BROWNE,
           VANCE, WASHINGTON, O'PAKE, FONTANA, FUMO, McILHINNEY, MELLOW,
           KITCHEN, TOMLINSON, DINNIMAN, PILEGGI, A. WILLIAMS AND
           HUGHES, MARCH 8, 2007

        SENATOR M. J. WHITE, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, AS
           AMENDED, OCTOBER 23, 2007

                                     AN ACT

     1  Providing for a report on potential global warming CLIMATE        <--
     2     CHANGE impacts and economic opportunities for this
     3     Commonwealth, for duties of the Department of Environmental
     4     Protection, for an inventory of greenhouse gases, for          <--
     5     creation of stakeholder process, FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF CLIMATE  <--
     6     CHANGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, for a voluntary registry of
     7     greenhouse gas emissions and for a climate change action
     8     plan.

     9     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    10  hereby enacts as follows:
    11  Section 1.  Short title.
    12     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
    13  Global Warming CLIMATE CHANGE Act.                                <--
    14  Section 2.  Definitions.
    15     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
    16  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
    17  context clearly indicates otherwise:
    18     "Baseline."  A level of greenhouse gas emissions against
    19  which future emissions are measured.

     1     "Carbon sequestration."  The long-term storage of carbon or
     2  carbon dioxide in forests, FOREST PRODUCTS, soils, oceans or      <--
     3  underground in depleted oil and gas reservoirs, coal seams and
     4  saline aquifiers.
     5     "CLIMATE CHANGE."  ANY ALTERATION OF THE EARTH'S CLIMATE DUE,  <--
     6  AT LEAST IN PART, TO EMISSIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES ASSOCIATED
     7  WITH HUMAN ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
     8  BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS, BIOMASS BURNING, CEMENT MANUFACTURE,
     9  AGRICULTURE, DEFORESTATION AND OTHER LAND-USE CHANGES.
    10     "Cobenefits."  The economic, social, environmental, public
    11  health and other benefits of global warming CLIMATE CHANGE        <--
    12  policies that are independent of any benefits for reducing or
    13  mitigating global warming CLIMATE CHANGE.                         <--
    14     "COMMITTEE."  THE CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
    15  ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 5.
    16     "Department."  The Department of Environmental Protection of
    17  the Commonwealth.
    18     "Global warming."  Any increase in the earth's temperature     <--
    19  due, at least in part, to emissions of greenhouse gases
    20  associated with human activities, including, but not limited to,
    21  the burning of fossil fuels, biomass burning, cement
    22  manufacture, agriculture, deforestation and other land-use
    23  changes.
    24     "Greenhouse gases" or "GHGs."  Gases in the earth's
    25  atmosphere that absorb and reemit infrared radiation, including
    26  carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons,
    27  perfluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons.
    28     "Stakeholders."  Experts on global warming and climate change  <--
    29  issues, which include persons from the scientific, business and
    30  industry, environmental, social, outdoor and sporting, faith-
    20070S0266B1487                  - 2 -     

     1  based and labor communities as well as other interested parties.
     2     "SECRETARY."  THE SECRETARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF     <--
     3  THE COMMONWEALTH.
     4  Section 3.  Report on potential global warming CLIMATE CHANGE     <--
     5                 impact and economic opportunities for this
     6                 Commonwealth.
     7     (a)  Report required.--The department shall prepare and
     8  publish a report on the potential impact of global warming and    <--
     9  climate change in this Commonwealth. The report shall identify
    10  the following:
    11         (1)  Scientific predictions regarding changes in
    12     temperature and precipitation patterns and amounts in this
    13     Commonwealth that could result from global warming. CLIMATE    <--
    14     CHANGE. SUCH PREDICTIONS SHALL REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF VIEWS
    15     WITHIN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY.
    16         (2)  The potential impact of global warming CLIMATE        <--
    17     CHANGE on human health, the economy and the management of
    18     economic risk, forests, wildlife, fisheries, recreation,
    19     agriculture and tourism in this Commonwealth and any
    20     significant uncertainties about the impact of global warming   <--
    21     CLIMATE CHANGE.                                                <--
    22         (3)  Economic opportunities for this Commonwealth created
    23     by the potential need for alternative sources of energy,
    24     climate-related technologies, services and strategies; carbon
    25     sequestration technologies; capture and utilization of
    26     fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from any source and other
    27     mitigation strategies.
    28     (b)  Cooperation.--In preparing the report, the department
    29  may SHALL consult with Federal and other state agencies,          <--
    30  academic institutions and stakeholders. THE COMMITTEE. THE        <--
    20070S0266B1487                  - 3 -     

     1  REPORT SHALL REFLECT ANY DIVERSITY OF OPINION AMONG THE ENTITIES
     2  CONSULTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
     3     (c)  Deadline.--This report shall be completed, published and
     4  distributed to the General Assembly and made available to the
     5  public in printed form and on the Internet within six NINE        <--
     6  months of the effective date of this act and shall be revised
     7  every three years thereafter.
     8  Section 4.  Greenhouse gases inventory.
     9     (a)  Inventory required.--In consultation with stakeholders    <--
    10  THE COMMITTEE, the department shall annually create COMPILE an    <--
    11  inventory of GHGs emitted in this Commonwealth by all sources.
    12  This inventory shall establish GHG emission trends and the
    13  relative contribution of major sectors, including, but not
    14  limited to, the transportation, electricity generation,
    15  industrial, commercial, mineral and natural resources,
    16  PRODUCTION OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL, agricultural and domestic         <--
    17  sectors.
    18     (b)  Baseline.--The department shall establish a baseline of
    19  GHG emissions that it shall use to project future GHG emissions
    20  in this Commonwealth in the absence of government intervention.
    21     (c)  Coordination with action plan.--The inventory and
    22  baseline shall be presented to the Governor and stakeholders,     <--
    23  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE COMMITTEE every three years as part
    24  of the GHG plan of action required under section 7.
    25  Section 5.  Creation of stakeholder process.                      <--
    26     (a)  Appointment.--Within 30 days of the effective date of
    27  this act, the Governor shall appoint stakeholders who shall
    28  advise the department about implementation of the provisions of
    29  this act. The stakeholders shall be appointed on account of
    30  their expertise regarding global warming and climate change
    20070S0266B1487                  - 4 -     

     1  issues. Stakeholders shall be chosen from scientific, business
     2  and industry environmental, social, outdoor and sporting, faith-
     3  based and labor communities along with other interested parties.
     4     (b)  Meetings.--Within 60 days of the effective date of this
     5  act, the department shall call the first meeting of the
     6  stakeholders and shall establish a schedule for regular meetings
     7  with stakeholders about implementation of the provisions of this
     8  act.
     9  SECTION 5.  CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.                    <--
    10     (A)  ESTABLISHMENT.--THERE IS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE
    11  DEPARTMENT THE CLIMATE CHANGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE PURPOSE OF
    12  THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE
    13  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.
    14     (B)  MEMBERSHIP.--
    15         (1)  THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE COMPOSED OF RESIDENTS OF THIS
    16     COMMONWEALTH SELECTED AS SET FORTH IN THIS SUBSECTION.
    17     MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR INTEREST,
    18     KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERTISE REGARDING CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES.
    19     MEMBERS SHALL BE SELECTED TO REFLECT A DIVERSITY OF
    20     VIEWPOINTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES FROM THE SCIENTIFIC,
    21     BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL,
    22     OUTDOOR AND SPORTING, LABOR AND OTHER AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.
    23         (2)  EIGHTEEN MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS:
    24             (I)  SIX MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
    25             (II)  SIX MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SENATE. OF THESE
    26         MEMBERS, THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE SHALL APPOINT
    27         FOUR MEMBERS AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE SHALL
    28         APPOINT TWO MEMBERS.
    29             (III)  SIX MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE HOUSE OF
    30         REPRESENTATIVES. OF THESE MEMBERS, THE MAJORITY LEADER OF
    20070S0266B1487                  - 5 -     

     1         THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL APPOINT FOUR MEMBERS
     2         AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
     3         SHALL APPOINT TWO MEMBERS.
     4         (3)  THE SECRETARY OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES,
     5     THE SECRETARY OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
     6     CHAIR OF THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION, OR THEIR
     7     DESIGNEES, SHALL BE EX OFFICIO VOTING MEMBERS OF THE
     8     COMMITTEE.
     9     (C)  APPOINTMENT.--MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE
    10  APPOINTED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT.
    11     (D)  TERMS OF SERVICE.--A MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED FOR A
    12  TERM OF FOUR YEARS. OF THE INITIAL MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE
    13  GOVERNOR, THREE MEMBERS SHALL SERVE INITIAL TERMS OF TWO YEARS.
    14  OF THE INITIAL MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE
    15  SENATE, TWO MEMBERS SHALL SERVE INITIAL TERMS OF TWO YEARS. OF
    16  THE INITIAL MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE
    17  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TWO MEMBERS SHALL SERVE INITIAL TERMS
    18  OF TWO YEARS. OF THE INITIAL MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY
    19  LEADER OF THE SENATE, ONE MEMBER SHALL SERVE AN INITIAL TERM OF
    20  TWO YEARS. OF THE INITIAL MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY
    21  LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ONE MEMBER SHALL SERVE
    22  AN INITIAL TERM OF TWO YEARS. AFTER SUCH INITIAL TERMS, ALL
    23  APPOINTMENTS SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS.
    24     (E)  CHAIRPERSON.--THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE
    25  ELECTED FROM AMONG AND BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE MEMBERS
    26  APPOINTED UNDER SUBSECTION (B)(2). THE TERM OF A CHAIRPERSON
    27  SHALL BE FOR TWO YEARS AND AN INDIVIDUAL MAY SERVE NO MORE THAN
    28  TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS AS CHAIRPERSON.
    29     (F)  MEETINGS.--WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
    30  ACT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CALL THE FIRST MEETING OF THE
    20070S0266B1487                  - 6 -     

     1  COMMITTEE AND SHALL ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE FOR REGULAR MEETINGS OF
     2  THE COMMITTEE TO ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT.
     3     (G)  EXPENSES.--MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL SERVE WITHOUT
     4  COMPENSATION BUT MAY BE REIMBURSED FROM FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR
     5  SUCH PURPOSES FOR NECESSARY AND REASONABLE TRAVEL AND OTHER
     6  EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
     7     (H)  FACILITATOR.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL RETAIN THE SERVICES
     8  OF A THIRD-PARTY FACILITATOR TO CONDUCT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE
     9  COMMITTEE.
    10     (I)  DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
    11  CREATE AND MAINTAIN AN INTERNET WEBSITE LISTING THE MEMBERSHIP,
    12  ACTIVITIES, MEETING SCHEDULE, MEETING AGENDA, EXPENSE
    13  REIMBURSEMENTS AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE
    14  COMMITTEE.
    15  Section 6.  Voluntary greenhouse gas registry.
    16     Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the
    17  department shall create a voluntary greenhouse gas registry
    18  through which interested businesses, governments, institutions
    19  and other entities can record any reductions in greenhouse gas
    20  emissions or any avoided emissions of greenhouse gas emissions
    21  that are achieved in the absence of any government regulation     <--
    22  MANDATE TO REDUCE SUCH EMISSIONS. The department shall develop    <--
    23  rules GUIDELINES and criteria for the operation of the registry   <--
    24  and shall create a site on the Internet DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY     <--
    25  ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE for the public to examine a current
    26  list of registrants and emission reductions and avoidances.
    27  Section 7.  Climate change action plan.
    28     (a)  Action plan required.--Within one year 15 MONTHS from     <--
    29  the effective date of this act and every three years thereafter,
    30  the department shall, in consultation with the stakeholders       <--
    20070S0266B1487                  - 7 -     

     1  COMMITTEE, submit to the Governor for approval a climate change   <--
     2  action plan that:
     3         (1)  Identifies GHG emission AND SEQUESTRATION trends and  <--
     4     baselines in this Commonwealth.
     5         (2)  Evaluates cost-effective strategies for reducing OR   <--
     6     OFFSETTING GHG emissions from various sectors in this
     7     Commonwealth.
     8         (3)  Evaluates specific reduction targets for overall GHG  <--
     9     emissions in this Commonwealth.
    10         (4) (3)  Identifies costs, benefits and cobenefits of GHG  <--
    11     reduction strategies recommended by the GHG action plan,       <--
    12     INCLUDING THE IMPACT ON THE CAPABILITY OF MEETING FUTURE
    13     ENERGY DEMAND WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH.
    14         (5) (4)  Identifies areas of agreement and disagreement    <--
    15     among stakeholders COMMITTEE MEMBERS about the GHG action      <--
    16     plan.
    17         (6) (5)  Recommends to the General Assembly legislative    <--
    18     changes necessary to implement the GHG action plan.
    19     (b)  Approval of Governor.--Within 90 days from receipt of     <--
    20  the GHG action plan, the Governor shall approve the GHG action
    21  plan. In executing his approval, the Governor shall have the
    22  option to amend the GHG action plan.
    23     (c) (b)  Publication.--The approved GHG action plan shall be   <--
    24  published and distributed to the General Assembly and made
    25  available to the public in printed form and on the Internet
    26  within 30 days of the approval of the plan. WEBSITE UPON          <--
    27  SUBMISSION OF THE PLAN TO THE GOVERNOR.
    28  SECTION 8.  EFFECT OF FEDERAL LAW.
    29     (A)  DUTY OF SECRETARY TO MONITOR FEDERAL LAW.--THE SECRETARY
    30  SHALL MONITOR THE ENACTMENT OF LAWS BY THE CONGRESS OF THE
    20070S0266B1487                  - 8 -     

     1  UNITED STATES TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY LAW HAS BEEN SO ENACTED
     2  THAT IT ESTABLISHES A PROGRAM OF GHG INVENTORY, REGISTRY OR
     3  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE AS OR MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN
     4  THOSE SET FORTH IN THIS ACT.
     5     (B)  PUBLICATION IN PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN.--IF THE SECRETARY
     6  DETERMINES THAT SUCH A LAW IS ENACTED, THE SECRETARY SHALL
     7  PUBLISH THIS DETERMINATION IN THE PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN. THE
     8  NOTICE SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT AFFECTED ENTITIES SHALL BE
     9  IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT OR ANY SUBSEQUENT ACT WHICH IMPOSES
    10  GHG INVENTORY, REGISTRY OR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS BY SUBMITTING
    11  THE SAME INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT AS IS REQUIRED TO BE
    12  SUBMITTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
    13  Section 8 9.  Effective date.                                     <--
    14     This act shall take effect immediately.











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