# Connecticut House Bill No. 5600: An Act Concerning Connecticut Global Warming Solutions

The following is a summary by Environment Northeast of Connecticut House Bill No. 5600, An Act Concerning Connecticut Global Warming Solutions, with a focus on the environmental and energy effici ency elements. The bill passed the House 131to 16, the Senate unanimously at 35 to 0, and the bill will go next to Governor Rell to be signed into law. The complete act can be found on t he CT Legislature’s Web Site, as http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/FC/pdf/2008HB-05600-R0007 55-FC.pdf

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High Level Summary
An Act Concerning Connecticut Global Warming Solution s establishes mandatory greenhouse gas emissions redu ctions consistent with the goals enacted by the legislatur e in 2004 (PA 04-252). This legislation requires C onnecticut’s total emissions to be reduced at least: 10% below 19 90 levels by 2020 and at 80% below current levels b y 2050. It also requires state agencies to identify, and re port to the Department of Environmental Protection, th e Office of Policy and Management, and the General Assembly on policies and regulations that could be adopted to achieve the emissions cap established in the Act.

Section 1:

• Definitions. Of note, “greenhouse gas" means any chemical or physical substance that is emitted into the air that will cause or contribute to climate change, including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.

Section 2:

• Requires that Connecticut’s total greenhouse gas emissions be reduced:

o 10% below 1990 levels by 2020

o 80% below 2001 levels by 2050.

• On or before January 1, 2010 and biannually thereafter, the state agencies that are members of the existing Governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change (CT Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), CT Department of Administrative Services (DAS), CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), CT Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) CT Department of Revenue Services, CT Department of Transportation (DOT) , CT Innovations, Inc., Office of Policy and Management (OPM)) shall identify and report to DEP, OPM on steps that the agencies have taken and the policies and regulations that could be adopted to achieve the emissions caps established in this bill and accounting of the progress that has been made in achieving the mandated reductions.

• Not later than January 1, 2012 and every three years thereafter, DEP with OPM and the Governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change shall report to the relevant committees of the General Assembly on the quantifiable emissions reductions already achieved. The report shall include a schedule of proposed regulations, policies and strategies designed to achieve the limits on greenhouse gas emissions,
an assessment of the latest scientific information and relevant data regarding global climate change and the status of greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts in other states and
countries.

• At least one year prior to the effective date of any federally mandated greenhouse gas cap and trade program, DEP and OPM shall report to the General Assembly on the differences between federal and state requirements and shall identify any further regulatory or legislative actions needed to achieve consistency.

Section 3:Page 2

• DEP, with the advice and assistance of a nonprofit association organized to provide scientific, technical, analytical and policy support to the air quality and climate programs of northeastern states, will:

o Not later than December 1, 2009, publish an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions to establish a baseline for such emissions for the state and publish a summary of greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies on the DEP web site;

o Not later than July 1, 2010, publish results of various modeling scenarios concerning greenhouse gas emissions, including, but not limited to, an evaluation of the potential economic and environmental benefits and opportunities for economic growth based on such scenarios;

o Not later than July 1, 2011, analyze greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies and, after an opportunity for public comment, make recommendations on which such strategies will most cost effectively achieve the greenhouse gas emission levels specified in this act.

o Not later than July 1, 2012, and every three years thereafter, DEP will develop a schedule of recommended regulatory actions by relevant agencies, policies and other actions necessary to show reasonable further progress towards achieving the greenhouse gas emission levels specified in this act. There will be an opportunity for public comment throughout this process.

Section 4: • Authorizes the use of 7.5% administrative costs already allocated to DEP from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auction revenue to pay for reasonable administrative costs of state agency adoption of regulations to achieve the emissions caps in this act.

Section 5:

• Requires DEP to monitor development of lowcarbon fuels standards by other states and jurisdictions and assess whether the framework measures the full lifecycle of greenhouse gas emissions, including direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gas caused by changes in land and other factors.

• Requires DOT, within available appropriations,to investigate expansion of high-speed and lightrail passenger and freight train service.

• Authorizes DEP to investigate market-based compliance mechanisms to achieve greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Section 6:

• Authorizes DEP to use sixty percent of revenues from the existing Clean Air Act Account to implement the provisions of this

act.

Section 7:

• Directs the Governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change to establish a subcommittee to assess climate change impacts on the state and recommend measures to mitigate such impacts.

Section 8:

• Authorizes a technical change clarifying the Commissioner of DEP’s authority to work with nonprofit corporations “created for purpose offacilitating the state’s implementation of multistate air pollution control programs.”

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Environment Northeast is a nonprofit research and ad vocacy organization focusing on the Northeastern Un ited States and Eastern Canada. Our mission is to a ddress large-scale environmental challenges that threaten regional ecosystems, human health, or the managemen t of significant natural resources. We use policy a nalysis, collaborative problem solving, and advocacy to advan ce the environmental and economic sustainability of the region.