Makes findings that early participation in greenhouse gas emission programs that are market driven will bring the best results and sets forth various procedures and conditions for the state’s participation in regional and federal “cap and trade” programs. (See also Companion HB 1819).   Official Text and Analysis.

Reaffirms the state's GHG emission reduction targets. Additional findings are made, a new intent section is added, and an emissions reduction policy is declared.

To add a null and void clause.

To retain current limit on greenhouse gas emission reductions.

To provide for further study of a cap and trade system in Washington. The striking amendment provides provisions directing Ecology to continue to take an active role in regional and national discussion on cap and trade and directs ecology to study how the state can move forward as part of such a regional or national system.

To add a null and void clause for the purpose of funding.

To clarify that the department of transportation must perform the functions mandated in this section only if it receives funding specifically for this purpose.

To require at least 10% of the revenues in the account to be used for transit and transportation projects, including telework projects.

To clarify that the Department of Ecology is authorized to continue participation in the western climate initiative but sets forth the state's position on certain aspects of any cap and trade program.

To ensure maximum flexibility in addressing greenhouse gas emission policy.

To replace the William D. Ruckelshaus Center as the agency for reporting to the legislature on alternative strategies the state may implement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To require the Department of Ecology to adopt rule criteria for issuing early reduction allowances.

To delete the requirement for the DOE to recommend a GHG emissions reduction program that sets statewide and sector emission caps, the requirement for the DOE to report to the Legislature on alternative strategies the state may implement in order to meet the mandatory emission reduction requirements, the requirement for the DOE to recommend criteria for issuing and accepting offset credits for offset projects and creation of an Emissions Reduction Assistance Account. The amended bill adds: requirement that the DOE develop its best estimate of emissions levels in 2012 for persons that emit 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent or greater each year and the trajectory of emissions reductions necessary in order to meet the 2020 emission reduction requirements, a requirement that the Governor designate a currently employed full-time-equivalent person as the single point of accountability for all energy and climate change initiatives within state agencies, a requirement that the DOE develop recommendations for the state's policy for agricultural offset projects within Washington, a requirement that by 2015, coal-fired power plants within Washington that burn over 1 million tons of coal per year reduce GHG emissions by 1 million metric tons, a requirement that regional transportation planning organizations with at least one county with a population greater than 245,000 adopt a regional transportation plan that implements the goals to reduce annual per capita vehicle miles traveled and a severability clause.

To clarify the date for the report due to the Legislature on the status and content of the compliance agreement for coal-fired power plants is changed from December 31, 2010, to December 31, 2011. The bill requires the Department of Ecology (DOE) to develop an assessment of the state’s emissions sources, as well as an assessment of the sectors where reductions in the state’s greenhouse gas emissions cannot be realized, and an assessment on the sectors that are necessary to ensure the economic vitality of the state. A standard null and void clause is added so that if funding for this legislation is not included in the budget the bill is not enacted.

Directs the state to continue to pursue a regional and national cap-and-trade system. The striker amendments requires the state to study offset policies for forestry and agriculture as well as targets to reduce coal based emissions. The striker also establishes an alternative fuel corridor and requirements for local planning goals to help the state meet GHG reductions through vehicle miles traveled reductions and land use planning, among other things.

To direct the office of the governor and the department of ecology to represent the state's interest in the development of a national program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but must protect Washington's interests without influence from any decisions made as part of the western climate initiative, and must reflect Washington's manufacturing, hydroelectric, forestry, and agricultural interests. Requires the office of the governor and the department of ecology to continue to participate and monitor efforts to create a regional cap and trade program with specific guidance. Prohibits the department of ecology from issuing any new rules implementing any elements of proposals for a regional greenhouse gas reduction strategy or cap and trade policy without prior legislative direction.

Tp require the department of ecology to consider job losses that occur as a result of implementing new greenhouse gas reduction programs. Requires the governor to ensure no net loss of jobs under any greenhouse gas reduction program implemented in Washington.

To require OFM in consultation with the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the minority leader of the senate, to initiate an independent economic analysis of the impact to Washington citizens and employers in expectation that Washington will implement a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To require the department of ecology to submit the western climate initiative program elements to the legislature prior to enacting rules relating to the western climate initiative.

To require any greenhouse gas reduction policy implemented in Washington to take into consideration the loss of baseload electrical generation. Requires the office of the governor and the department of ecology to ensure government policies are in place that will ensure new baseload generation capacity to achieve sufficient levels of reliable generation to satisfy the ten-year projection levels established by the United States energy information administration.

To require the governor to have any market mechanism that reduces greenhouse gas emissions to be reviewed by national experts familiar with creating private markets, fraud, speculation, and derivative markets, such as the Chicago mercantile exchange, the New York stock exchange, the national association of securities dealers automated quotations (NASDAQ), and the United States securities and exchange commission. Requires the public to have an opportunity for comment.

Requires the department of ecology to convene a stakeholder group for the purposes of continuing the work of the transportation implementation working group developing alternatives necessary to meet the overall state greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Requires the department of transportation to report to the legislature by September 30, 2010 on transportation issues.

To change the date from December 31, 2025 to December 31, 2020 for coal-fired power plants to meet the greenhouse gas emissions performance standards. Deletes the requirement that early or additional reductions of greenhouse gas emissions for coal-fired power plants must not be required.

To prohibit the department of ecology from making recommendations to the legislature for policies that can be manipulated by the government or other participants to the detriment of the citizens of Washington. Prohibits the department of ecology from implementing systems that would create a derivative market.

To require the department of ecology to convene a stakeholder group for the purposes of continuing the work of the transportation implementation working group developing alternatives necessary to meet the overall state greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Requires the department of transportation to report to the legislature by September 30, 2010 on transportation issues.

To add language stating that when representing the state's interests on any national emissions reduction program, the governor and the department of ecology must adhere to assuring that any national program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must provide incentives for green jobs. Defines what a green job is and is not.

To require new policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reduce emissions without increasing electricity or gasoline prices or increasing the overall burden on consumers through the use of revenues and policies provided for by legislation.

To require the department of ecology to provide each person with its estimate of the 2012 emissions levels and 2020 reduction trajectory no later than six months after the deadline for private industry emissions reports. Prohibits state agencies from requiring any person to report greenhouse gas emissions until final regulations have been enacted detailing how greenhouse gas emissions are to be tracked, verified, and the complete reporting process established.

To replace February 15, 2010 with April 15, 2010 for the date that the department of ecology must provide each person with its estimate of 2012 emissions levels and the 2020 reduction trajectory.