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Department of Ecology News Release - March 19, 2008
08-071
OLYMPIA – Public hearings are scheduled in April on a proposed rule that sets an emissions performance standard for power plants that emit greenhouse gases.
The 2007 Washington Legislature directed state agencies to develop and adopt the rule by June 30, 2008. As of July 1, 2008, electric utilities that enter into long-term financial commitments to supply baseload electric generation must meet the emissions performance standard. If they don’t, they can’t sign such contracts. To help producers meet the standard, the rule includes methods to evaluate plans for capturing and storing carbon emissions so they are not released to the Earth’s atmosphere. Such efforts, called sequestration, may include permanently storing emissions by injecting them underground.
The Washington Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) Air Quality and Water Quality programs are developing the rule for power plants under Ecology’s jurisdiction (less than 350 megawatts). Proposed amendments to Chapter 173-218 WAC include permitting requirements to protect groundwater from contamination due to permanently storing emissions underground, a process known as geologic sequestration. Proposed amendments to Chapter 173-407 WAC include adding new sections to implement and enforce the emissions performance standard. The proposed amendments also include minor corrections to existing rule language.
At the same time, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) is doing the work for large power plants (350 megawatts or greater). EFSEC’s proposed rule includes the new Chapter 463-85 WAC to implement and enforce the emissions performance standard. The two agencies will hold joint public hearings and adopt the rules concurrently.
Carbon emissions are among the major greenhouse gases that form a heat-trapping blanket in the atmosphere, which causes global temperatures to rise. Increasing temperatures trigger climate change.
“This work is a key part of Washington’s ongoing efforts to curb climate-changing greenhouse gases. Power producers in Washington release about 20 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. That makes them the second-largest source behind the transportation sector, which accounts for about 45 percent,” said Sarah Rees, an Ecology Air Quality Program manager.
The proposed rules include requirements for Ecology and EFSEC to:
Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted at two public hearings scheduled in April:
To review the proposed Ecology rule, go to http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173407_218.html. To obtain a printed copy, contact Nancy Pritchett in Ecology’s Air Quality Program at (360) 407-6082. To review the proposed EFSEC rules, go to http://efsec.wa.gov/rulerev.shtml. To obtain a printed copy, contact Allen Fiksdal at EFSEC at (360) 956-2152.
Public comments may be submitted starting today (Wednesday, March 19) and continuing until 5 p.m. April 18. To submit comments to Ecology, write to Nancy Pritchett, Air Quality Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600; e-mail to npri461@ecy.wa.gov; or fax to (360) 407-7534.
To submit comments to EFSEC, write to Allen Fiksdal, Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, P.O. Box 43172, Olympia, WA 98504-3172; e-mail to allenf@cted.wa.gov; or fax to (360) 956-2158.
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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; cell 360-584-5744; spre461@ecy.wa.gov
EFSEC’s website: http://www.efsec.wa.gov/
Read the original legislation (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6001): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6001
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
