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Building on our existing efforts to encourage state climate
change action, CCAP has launched a comprehensive program to
develop and implement cutting-edge climate change plans in
key states, and build momentum for a strong federal approach.
Through a combination of technical analysis and facilitation,
CCAP is working with key states at different stages of climate
change action to advance cutting-edge climate change programs.
This initiative addresses GHG emissions from all sectors of
the economy, including transportation and land-use, electricity
generation, industry, buildings, agriculture and forestry,
and examines the full range of measures.
The Center for Clean Air Policy Commends California Climate Action Team Recommendations
In response to the April 3 release of the California Climate Action Team (CAT) Report to Governor Schwarzenegger and the California Legislature, President Ned Helme stated that, “California’s comprehensive multi-sector approach is a strong step forward for the State as it sets a path forward for achieving Governor Schwarzenegger’s targets for greenhouse gas reductions.”
CCAP has been involved in the climate change debate in California for several years and in January 2006 released its own independent analysis of cost-effective greenhouse gas mitigation measures in California (see below for the Summary Report and Fact Sheet related to that study).
View CCAP's full Press Release
CCAP in LA Times
CCAP in San Francisco Chronicle
New Report on Costs of Meeting Governor Schwarzenegger's Global Warming Reduction Targets
"Based on our independent analysis of greenhouse gas mitigation (GHG) options for the State of California, we conclude that Governor Schwarzenegger's goal of reducing GHG emissions to 2000 levels by 2010 can be met at no net cost to California consumers," stated President Ned Helme. He added that, "California's progress in emission reduction will have significant implications internationally and place the State at the forefront of efforts to battle global warming."
CCAP’s analysis estimated the cost of reduction measures in the agricultural/forestry, cement and transportation sectors. For 2020, measures analyzed by CCAP combined with measures already underway in California can achieve an expected emission reduction requirement of 145 MMTCO2e which represents 86 percent of the total reductions required to meet the target.
Copies of the Center’s summary analysis, Cost-Effective GHG Mitigation Measures for California and an accompanying Fact Sheet can be downloaded below:
 Listen to CCAP's Press Event
California Program Overview
CCAP’s Study, Cost-Effective GHG Mitigation Measures for California, provides a bottom-up assessment of GHG reduction measures from a range of industry sectors in California, not including the power and oil refining sectors. We conclude that California’s GHG targets can likely be met at no net cost to consumers.
Combining cost-effective measures analyzed by the Center with measures already underway in California will achieve a total reduction of 51 MMTCO2e in 2010—88 percent of the estimated 58 MMTCO2e reduction required to meet the 2010 GHG target. For 2020, measures analyzed by CCAP combined with measures already underway in California can achieve a total of 125 MMTCO2e out of an expected emission reduction requirement of 145 MMTCO2e. Additional cost-effective reductions that are expected to be available in the oil refining and power sectors should assure achievement of the target.
On an average basis, the reductions identified by CCAP are expected to cost $5.25 per ton in 2010 and $5.77 per ton in 2020. After accounting for the cost savings expected from the vehicle GHG standards and energy efficiency programs already underway in California, the net cost to consumers is expected to be zero.
Click here for CCAP’s discussion paper on the design of a load-based cap for the power sector. This paper summarizes the main approaches for addressing emissions leakage in California and provides the first detailed description of how a load-based cap would work.
CCAP Assists Oregon Stakeholders in the Design of a Cap-and-Trade Program
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CCAP is assisting Oregon in the design of an offsets program as part of a larger load-based cap-and-trade system for the power sector. CCAP educated the Oregon Carbon Allocation Task Force on key elements of offset program design, including specific issues that relate to a load-based trading system. CCAP also prepared a straw proposal that was largely accepted as a “placeholder” for further deliberation.
Recent Presentations:
California Climate Update
- On April 20, 2006, Stacey Davis will present ideas on “What Should Cap & Trade Look Like in the West” at the California Climate Action Registry’s annual conference, connecting the Dots on Climate Change, in Dana Point, California. Her talk will build from the Center’s recent study of mitigation options in various industry sectors in California and policy responses for achieving mitigation actions. The summary of this study, “Cost-Effective GHG Mitigation Measures,” was released on January 19, 2006. Supporting sector papers were released previously as comments on the Energy Commission’s Integrated Energy Policy Report. Her comments will also draw on the Center’s 2005 assessment of approaches for addressing emissions leakage resulting from a cap-and-trade program for the power sector, “Design of a Cap on Emissions from California Power Demand.”
CCAP assessment of mitigation options found that significant reductions towards the Governor’s target could be achieved cost-effectively in the agriculture, cement, forestry, solid waste, and transportation sectors and through reductions in other high GWP gases. In all, we found that such measures, when combined with actions already underway in California, could achieve 88% of the Governor’s 2010 target and 86% of the Governor’s 2020 target for marginal costs of less than $30 per ton and for average costs of less than $6 per ton. Additional measures in the power and refining sectors could potentially enable the state to achieve the target. However, our study did not estimate the costs of mitigation actions in these sectors.
CCAP analysis of approaches to leakage found that a demand-based cap in California has some clear advantages over a cap on generation, including the ability to address emissions from out-of-state plants, the ability to more directly encourage development of energy efficiency and renewable energy, and reduced potential for leakage. The success of a cap on emissions associated with power demand rests on resolving data and monitoring and verification issues.
California Climate Update
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On July 12 Ned Helme presented the results of the Center’s analysis on greenhouse gas reduction strategies in California to Commissioners of the California Energy Commission, the Secretary of the California EPA, and to senior officials at the California Public Utility Commission at a Climate Change Workshop for the 2005 Integrated Energy Policy Report. Results demonstrate that reduction opportunities are available that will allow the Golden State to reach reduction goals by 2010 at a cost of less than $20 per ton. The Center and others continue to evaluate additional options with state leaders in California, so stay tuned for emerging information. To view a copy of the Center's presentation click here.
CCAP Presents at the Electric Utilities Environment Conference
- On January 24, Ned Helme and Dan Chartier presented at the Electric Utilities Environment Conference (EUEC) in Tucson, Arizona.
Ned's presentation focused on the "state of the state" in reaching the June 2005 targets set by Governor Schwarzenegger. His presentation also incorporated the Center's independent analysis on the cost of reaching the 2010 and 2020 targets released last week.
Dan presented on the topic of policy options for reducing emissions from the California power sector with specific emphasis on using a demand-based cap-and-trade design as an alternative to the supply-based cap-and-trade programs that are a hallmark of the US SO2 and NOx trading systems.
Demand-based systems require accounting for emissions from purchased power in addition to accounting for emissions caused by the companies own facilities.
Ned Helme Presents at California EPA Workshop
- December 13 - President Ned Helme spoke at the California EPA Workshop on the Climate Action Team's Report to the Governor. Ned presented results from CCAP analysis of policy options to reduce GHG emissions from a variety of sectors in California.
He presented preliminary results that suggest that the state could reach Governor Schwarzenegger's targets at reasonable cost with significant benefits to consumers. Additionally, Ned pointed to further opportunities for sectoral reductions beyond those estimated by the climate team in the agricultural (manure management), petrochemical refining, landfill gas and freight sectors (shifting from trucks to rail).
CCAP will release a final economic analysis in January.
CCAP Joins Center for Neighborhood Technology on Analysis of High Speed Rail
- CCAP partnered with the Center for Neighborhood Technology on an innovative corridor-based analysis of GHG benefits of high speed rail systems in the U.S. The modeling shows that high speed rail, if built as planned, will generate substantial GHG savings. The analysis reports potential emissions savings of 2.7 MMTCO2 per year and even greater savings if very high speed trains are used.
View this and other Transportation Publications.
State Roundtable Meetings:
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