§ 70A.45.050 — Greenhouse gas emission limits for state agencies—Timeline—Reports—Strategy—Reports to the legislature.

Washington § 70A.45.050

• Jurisdiction: Washington
• Title 70A: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
• Ch. 70A.45: LIMITING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Text

(1) State agencies shall meet the statewide greenhouse gas emission limits established in RCW 70A.45.020 to achieve the following, using the estimates and strategy established in subsections (2) and (3) of this section:

(a) By July 1, 2020, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to eight hundred five thousand metric tons, or fifteen percent below 2005 emission levels;

(b) By 2030, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to five hundred twenty-one thousand metric tons, or forty-five percent below 2005 levels;

(c) By 2040, reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to two hundred eighty-four thousand metric tons, or seventy percent below 2005 levels; and

(d) By 2050, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases to forty-seven thousand metric tons, or ninety-five percent below 2005 levels and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by state government as a whole.

(2)(a) By June 30, 2010, state agencies shall report estimates of emissions for 2005 to the department, including 2009 levels of emissions, and projected emissions through 2035.

(b) State agencies required to report under RCW 70A.15.2200 must estimate emissions from methodologies recommended by the department and must be based on actual operation of those agencies. Agencies not required to report under RCW 70A.15.2200 shall derive emissions estimates using an emissions calculator provided by the department.

(3) By June 1st of each even-numbered year beginning in 2022, state agencies shall report to the department, and to the state efficiency and environmental performance office at the department of commerce, the actions planned for the next two biennia to meet emission reduction targets and the actions taken to meet the emission reduction targets established in this section. The report must also include the agency's long-term strategy for meeting the emission reduction targets established in this section, which the agency shall update as appropriate. The department and the state efficiency and environmental performance office at the department of commerce shall review and compile the agency reports and, by December 1st of each even-numbered year beginning in 2022, provide a consolidated report to the appropriate committees of the legislature. This report must include recommendations for budgetary and other actions that will assist state agencies in achieving the greenhouse gas emissions reductions specified in this section. The department may authorize the department of enterprise services to report on behalf of any state agency having fewer than five hundred full-time equivalent employees at any time during the reporting period. The department shall cooperate with the department of enterprise services and the state efficiency and environmental performance office at the department of commerce to develop consolidated reporting methodologies that incorporate emission reduction actions taken across all or substantially all state agencies.

(4) State agencies shall cooperate in providing information to the department, the department of enterprise services, and the department of commerce for the purposes of this section.

Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2020 c 20 s 1401 and by 2020 c 79 s 3, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025 (2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025 (1).

Intent — 2020 c 79: See note following RCW 70A.45.020 .

Findings — 2009 c 519: See RCW 70A.05.900 .

Legislative History

[2020 c 79 s 3;2020 c 20 s 1401;2015 c 225 s 110;2009 c 519 s 2. Formerly RCW70.235.050.]