Climate Solutions Act of 2015

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the climate. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Climate Solutions Act of 2015 2. Findings; sense of Congress (a) Findings The Congress finds as follows: (1) The United States has the objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference (2) To achieve this objective, the increase in global mean surface temperature should not exceed 2°C (3.6°F) above preindustrial temperature, much of which is already projected to occur by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (3) The risks associated with a temperature increase above 2°C (3.6°F) are grave, including the disintegration of the Greenland ice sheet, which, if it were to melt completely, would raise global average sea level by approximately 23 feet, devastating many of the world’s coastal areas and population centers. (4) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that temperatures will rise between 1.8°C to 4.0°C (3.2°F to 7.2°F) by the end of the century, under a range of expected emissions trends, but if there are common goals to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the temperature increase can be limited to 2°C (3.6°F) or less. (5) Serious global warming impacts have already been observed in the United States and worldwide, including— (A) increases in heat waves and other extreme weather events; (B) rise in sea level, retreat of glaciers and polar ice; (C) decline in mountain snowpack, increased drought (including droughts in the West and South United States) resulting in damage to our economy and property; (D) extreme weather conditions resulting in wildfires, stronger hurricanes and polar vortex occurrences resulting in further damage to property and our economy; (E) damage to our environment such as ocean acidification, extensive coral bleaching, migrations, and shifts in the yearly cycles of plants and animals; and (F) effects on human population including population displacement and adverse health effects such as the spread of infectious diseases and climate-related conditions such as asthma. (6) Scientists project that under a midrange estimate of global warming, by 2050, roughly 25 percent of animal and plant species will be committed to extinction. (7) Decisive action is needed to minimize the many dangers posed by global warming. (8) The timing of such action is critical, given that greenhouse gases can persist in the atmosphere for more than a century. (9) The International Energy Agency has warned in its most recent World Energy Outlook report that, unless there is a serious commitment to investing in zero carbon renewable energy resources, much of the amount of projected limits necessary to avoid greenhouse-gas-emission-caused dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system will be locked in and exceeded. (10) PricewaterhouseCoopers Low Carbon Economy Index Report estimates that carbon-based fuel use needs to be reduced 6.5 percent per year through the year 2100, nearly six times the current rate, to avoid dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. (11) With only 5 percent of the world population, the United States emits approximately 20 percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions and must be a leader in addressing global warming. (12) The State of California, the 8th largest economy in the world, has shown that renewable energy standards and greenhouse gas emissions regulation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while fostering significant economic growth. (13) Existing energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy technologies can reduce global warming pollution, while saving consumers money, reducing our dependence on oil, enhancing national security, cleaning the air, and protecting pristine places from drilling and mining. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that the United States should participate in negotiations under the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and honor its commitments therefrom with the objective of securing United States participation in agreements that— (1) establish mitigation commitments by all countries that are major emitters of greenhouse gases, consistent with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities; (2) achieve reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions at a pace and level sufficient to avoid dangerous interference with the Earth’s climate; and (3) advance and protect the economic and national security interests of the United States. I RENEWABLE ENERGY 101. National renewable energy standard Title VI of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 824a–4 et seq. 610. National renewable energy standard (a) In general The Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring that— (1) beginning in calendar year 2020, the percentage of electric energy generated from renewable sources that is sold at the retail level in the United States shall increase each year; (2) in calendar year 2030 and each subsequent calendar year, such percentage shall be not less than 40 percent of the total electric energy sold at the retail level in the United States; and (3) in calendar year 2050 and each subsequent calendar year, such percentage shall not be less than 80 percent of the total electric energy sold at the retail level in the United States. (b) Consultation The Secretary shall carry out this section in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (c) Subsequent increases Upon petition or upon the Secretary’s own initiative, the Secretary may increase the percentage required by subsection (a)(2). (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt or limit State actions to enhance renewable energy generation or energy efficiency. . II ENERGY EFFICIENCY 201. National energy efficiency standard Title VI of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 824a–4 et seq. 611. National energy efficiency standard (a) In general The Secretary shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this section setting end-user savings targets for retail electric energy and natural gas suppliers. (b) Consultation The Secretary shall carry out this section in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (c) Requirements With respect to targets under subsection (a): (1) The targets shall require each supplier to secure annual savings of a set percentage of the supplier’s most recent year’s sales to retail customers. (2) The savings shall be achieved through end-use efficiency improvements at customer facilities. (3) The targets— (A) for retail electric energy suppliers shall increase gradually from 0.25 percent of sales in 2018 to 1.5 percent of sales in 2023 and each year thereafter through 2028; and (B) for retail natural gas suppliers shall increase gradually from 0.25 percent of sales in 2018 to 0.5 percent of sales in 2023 and each year thereafter through 2028. (4) The targets are cumulative. Each year’s savings shall be achieved in addition to the previous years’ savings. (d) Required percentages after 2028 The Secretary may, upon petition or upon the Secretary’s own initiative, increase the required percentage of end-user savings for years after 2028. (e) Market-Based Trading System The Secretary shall allow suppliers to achieve the targets under subsection (a) through a market-based trading system. (f) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt or limit State actions to enhance renewable energy generation or energy efficiency. . III Science-Based Reductions 301. Emission reduction targets Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in this title referred to as the Administrator (1) in 2035, is at least 40 percent below the quantity of such emissions in 1990; and (2) in 2050, is at least 80 percent below the quantity of such emissions in 1990. 302. National academies review Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academies (or, if the National Academies decline to enter into such arrangement, another appropriate entity) under which the National Academies, acting through the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council, will submit a report to the Administrator and the Congress on the prospects for avoiding dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system and the progress made to date. Each such report shall— (1) evaluate whether the emission reduction targets promulgated pursuant to section 301 and the policies to reduce United States greenhouse gas emissions under this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and other provisions of law, including the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. (2) if the National Academies concludes that such targets and policies are not likely to be sufficient to avoid dangerous climate change— (A) identify the needed amount of further reductions in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations; and (B) recommend additional United States and international actions to further reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. 303. Regulations (a) In general The Administrator shall— (1) not later than 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act, promulgate final regulations to implement the emission reduction targets under section 301; and (2) not less than every 5 years thereafter— (A) review such regulations, taking into account the reports under section 302; and (B) revise such regulation as necessary to implement such emission reduction targets. (b) Rulemaking on recommendations of national academies If any report under section 302 includes a recommendation under section 302(2)(B) for regulatory action by a Federal department or agency, and such regulatory action is within the authority of such department or agency (under law other than this subsection), the head of such department or agency shall, not later than 2 years after the submission of such report, finalize a rulemaking— (1) to carry out such regulatory action; or (2) to explain the reasons for declining to act. (c) Additional regulations The regulations promulgated under subsection (a) may include additional regulations to reduce emissions of United States greenhouse gases from any source or sector. Any such regulations that address sources whose greenhouse gas emissions are regulated pursuant to section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7411(d) (d) Relation to other authority The authority vested by this title is in addition to the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to other provisions of law. 304. Savings clause Nothing in this title shall be interpreted to preempt or limit State actions to address climate change. 305. Definitions In this title: (1) Greenhouse gas The term greenhouse gas (A) carbon dioxide; (B) methane; (C) nitrous oxide; (D) hydrofluorocarbons; (E) perfluorocarbons; (F) sulfur hexafluoride; or (G) any other anthropogenically emitted gas that is determined by the Administrator, after notice and comment, to contribute to global warming to a non-negligible degree. (2) United States greenhouse gas emissions The term United States greenhouse gas emissions

Summary: Climate Solutions Act of 2015 This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 by directing the Department of Energy (DOE) to promulgate regulations that require the percentage of electric energy generated from renewable sources that is sold at the retail level to increase each year beginning in 2020 so that in 2050 and each subsequent year, the percentage is at least 80%. DOE must also promulgate regulations that set cumulative energy savings targets for retail electric energy and natural gas suppliers that require each supplier to secure annual savings that are achieved through end-use efficiency improvements at customer facilities. For electric energy suppliers, the targets must increase from .25% of sales in 2018 to 1.5% of sales in 2023 and each year thereafter through 2028. For natural gas suppliers, the target must increase from .25% of sales in 2018 to .5% of sales in 2023 and each year thereafter through 2028. DOE must allow suppliers to achieve the targets through a market-based trading system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must promulgate annual emission reduction targets for each of 2030 through 2050 to ensure that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions: (1) in 2035 are at least 40% below those in 1990, and (2) in 2050 are at least 80% below those in 1990. The EPA must promulgate final regulations to implement those targets within 7 years and review them at least every 5 years thereafter.