Washington State’s New GHG Regulations: A Case Study for the Future of GHG Regulations for the High Tech Industry

De Blasi, Michelle*; Weissinger, Emily
(Fennemore Craig, Phoenix, AZ; Ramboll Environ, Phoenix, AZ)

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On January 5, 2016 the Washington State Department of Ecology released their much anticipated proposed Clean Air Rule, which would require all organizations in the state that emit more than 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year to reduce their emissions by 5% every three years. This rule, the first of its kind in the United States, comes after many months of failed attempts by the Washington State legislature to agree upon a greenhouse gas cap and trade bill. It also comes amidst the threat of carbon tax ballot initiatives from multiple public interest groups. All of these proposals have the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Washington State, but each have vastly different financial implications for industry and varying opportunities for stakeholder involvement. What’s happening in Washington State today is likely to be seen around the country in years to come. This presentation will discuss the future of greenhouse gas regulation in the United States from both a technical and legal perspective, focusing on potential impacts to the high tech industry. In addition, it will use the various carbon initiatives proposed in Washington State to illustrate the many ways the greenhouse gas emissions of a hypothetical high tech manufacturing plant could be regulated.

Back to SESHA 38th Annual Symposium (2016)