EMISSIONS
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…...
A new analysis shows that California needs significant policy and technology changes to meet its 2050 GHG reduction target. On November 4, 2013, the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released a report analyzing the impact of existing policies and technologies on California’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction targets. The state’s GHG reduction initiatives aim to reduce…...
On November 1, the Obama Administration released Executive Order (EO) 13231 to address climate change resilience in state and local communities. The EO directs Federal Agencies to include increased climate change criteria for issuing grant and contract awards. On the same day, the Environmental Protection Agency released 17 program and regional draft implementation plans, with…...
President Obama has issued an executive order outlining multiple strategies to bolster climate resilience of states and local governments. On November 1, 2013, President Obama signed an Executive Order (EO) titled “Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change,” directing federal agencies to support climate resilience efforts in states and local communities. The…...
California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia have agreed to strategically align their climate and clean energy policies. On October 28, 2013, Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington and the Premier of Canadian Province British Columbia signed the Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy to align their climate and clean energy policies, pursuant to…...
On September 23, the 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. Data from the rule will determine whether the EPA will directly regulate methane from oil and…...
EPA’s latest GHG emissions data show that power plant emissions declined by 10 percent between 2010 and 2012 due to increased natural gas use. On October 23, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) released its third annual report detailing facility-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from large industrial sources across…...
2012 EIA data show that U.S. energy-related emissions dropped to lowest levels since 1994 due to a decline in energy consumption and overall carbon intensity. On October 21, 2013, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its 2012 report on U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The report, derived from EIA’s monthly energy data, highlighted that 2012…...
Earlier this month, California Air Resources Board (CARB) released a draft Update to the Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) Scoping Plan, describing the progress made towards objectives and defining priorities and activities to reduce emissions. Overview AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, created a…...