EMISSIONS
The nine RGGI states have announced the first carbon allowance auction under the tougher 2014 emissions cap of 91 million tons. On January 13, 2014, the nine member states of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced the new 2014 carbon cap of 91 million tons, approximately 45 percent below the previous cap of 165…...
EPA has issued final Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations to conditionally exclude carbon dioxide (CO2) streams in geologic sequestration activities from the definition of hazardous waste. On January 3, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final revisions for hazardous waste management under RCRA to conditionally exclude CO2 streams from the definition of…...
New set-top box efficiency standards are expected to save more than $1B on annual consumer energy bills. On December 23, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced non-regulatory efficiency standards to improve pay-television set-top box efficiency by 10 to 45 percent by 2017. The agreement, developed in coordination with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC),…...
EIA’s latest Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) projects a 56 percent increase in natural gas production by 2040, overtaking coal as the largest share of U.S. electric power generation. On December 16, 2013, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released the AEO 2014 Early Release Overview presenting updated projections for U.S. energy markets through 2040. The AEO…...
EPA’s annual report on average fuel economy shows that MY 2012 vehicles achieved record-high fuel economy and record-low carbon emissions. On December 12, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its annual report on average fuel economy, emissions, and powertrain technology of new U.S. personal vehicles, including passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans, pickup…...
Massachusetts has finalized RGGI regulation amendments to implement a new emissions cap of 91 million tons per year, starting in 2014. On December 9, 2013, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued final amendments to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Pursuant to the RGGI Updated Model Rule…...
RGGI states have recommended that EPA develop a market-based emissions reduction program based on RGGI model success. On December 2, 2013, members of environmental and energy agencies within the nine Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) states submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its proposed carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions regulations for existing power…...
The White House has published a new document explaining the derivation of the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC), reflecting May estimate updates. On November 26, 2013, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a request for comment on a new Technical Support Document (TSD) that explains the derivation of SCC, a monetary estimate of…...
A new study finds that U.S. methane emissions are highly underestimated by current studies. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on November 25, 2013 found that U.S. methane emissions could be 50 percent higher than current estimates. Specifically, nationwide anthropogenic methane emissions are likely to be 1.5 times…...
California has issued the first carbon offset credits under its Forestry Protocol, enabling cap-and-trade entities to use forestry projects to offset emissions. On November 13, 2013, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced approval of the first carbon offset credits under the cap-and-trade forestry protocol. CARB issued 1.2 million offset credits to Willits Woods, a…...
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard shows increasing state adoption of energy efficiency measures to save energy costs, spur innovation, and promote growth. On November 6, 2013, ACEEE released its 2013 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard report, ranking states on energy efficiency policy and program efforts, and providing…...
On September 23, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its 2012 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule, which indirectly regulates fugitive methane emissions at the production phase of oil and natural gas development. Overview EPA will use outcome data from the NSPS NESHAP rule to determine…...