The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has released its proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade regulation. The release begins a public comment period culminating in a Dec. 16 public hearing in Sacramento, Calif., at which ARB will consider adopting the proposed program. During the public comment period, ARB staff will continue to meet with stakeholders to refine the regulation and develop proposed changes to present at the hearing.
A key part of ARB's A.B.32 Scoping Plan, the cap-and-trade program provides an overall limit on the emissions from sources responsible for 85% of California's GHG emissions. This program allows covered entities flexibility for compliance and stimulates clean energy technologies, according to ARB. It is designed to work in collaboration with other complementary policies that expand energy-efficiency programs and reduce vehicle emissions.
A.B.32, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif., in 2006, is California's Global Warming Solutions Act that set in law aggressive GHG-reduction targets that will reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. In 2008, ARB approved the A.B.32 Scoping Plan that uses a mix of approaches to meet climate-change goals, including a cap-and-trade program and other complementary measures.
SOURCE: California Air Resources Board
