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Department of Ecology News Release - June 30, 2008
08-180
OLYMPIA – Washington is continuing to lead in the fight against global climate change by adopting the nation’s first standards for underground injection of climate-changing carbon dioxide.
In addition, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has adopted a rule that sets an emissions performance standard for power plants that emit greenhouse gases. Fossil-fuel fired power plants are significant sources of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and increases global temperatures. Increased temperatures contribute to climate change.
The 2007 Washington Legislature directed state agencies to develop and adopt rules for power plant emissions and geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide by June 30, 2008.
Ecology’s Water Quality Program amended Chapter 173-218 WAC to allow the injection of carbon dioxide into deep rock formations, a process known as geologic sequestration. The rules require the protection of existing water quality in aquifers that we use for irrigation and drinking water.
“Washington now has the nation’s first standards for sequestering carbon dioxide underground. This technology has the potential to reduce the release of carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants which will limit the impacts of global climate change. We are also one of only two states with an emissions performance standard, which will help ensure that electricity consumed in Washington does not come from dirty coal,” said Janice Adair, special assistant to Ecology Director Jay Manning.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to release a first draft of federal sequestration standards this summer, with final adoption scheduled for 2010.
In addition, Ecology’s Air Quality Program developed a rule for power plants that fall under Ecology’s jurisdiction (less than 350 megawatts). The program amended Chapter 173-407 WAC to adopt the greenhouse gases emissions performance standard for baseload electric generation of 1,100 pounds per megawatt-hour that was included in the legislation. The standard is equivalent to the emissions from a natural gas power plant. It also establishes criteria to implement and enforce the emissions performance standard. Rule requirements include:
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) adopted rules for large power plants under its jurisdiction (350 megawatts or greater), which establish similar requirements for these power plants.
Ecology’s rules take effect July 19; EFSEC’s rules take effect July 25.
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Media contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; cell 360-584-5744; spre461@ecy.wa.gov
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173407_218.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
