Goals – Information, Analyses, & Reports; Climate Change Coordinating Council

Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Goals (Wis. Stats. § 299.03, Section 287; p. 144-146)

• Specifies goals for statewide reductions of net greenhouse gas emissions.
• Creates definitions:
  • “Annual net greenhouse gas emissions” means the amount of greenhouse gases, measured as tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, emitted to the atmosphere by all sources and activities in this state in a year minus the amount of greenhouse gases, measured as tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, removed from the atmosphere by all sources and activities, including by carbon sequestration, in this state in the year.
  • “Carbon dioxide equivalent” means the amount of carbon dioxide that has the equivalent radiative effect as a specified amount of a greenhouse gas, calculated by multiplying the specified amount of the greenhouse gas by its global warming potential.
  • “Carbon sequestration” means the long−term storage of carbon in water bodies, soil, vegetation, or geologic formations.
  • “Global warming potential” means the relative radiative effect of a greenhouse gas compared to the radiative effect of carbon dioxide.
  • “Greenhouse gas” means carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, nitrogen trifluoride, a hydrofluorocarbon, a perfluorocarbon, or any other gas identified by the department under sub. (4).
  • “Radiative effect” means the capability of a gas in the atmosphere to absorb infrared radiation that is emitted from the earth’s surface.
  • “Renewable energy generation” means the generation of energy using a renewable resource, as defined in s. 196.374 (1) (j).
  • “Zero net energy building” means one of the following:
    • A building that annually, based on a 3−year average, uses no more energy than is provided by on−site renewable energy generation.
    • One of 2 or more buildings that have an integrated system of energy supply and use and that together annually, based on a 3−year average, use no more energy than is provided by renewable energy generation that is part of the integrated system.
• The goals are:
  • That the amount of emissions in 2014 does not exceed the amount in 2005;
  • That the amount of emissions in 2022 is at least 22% less than 2005 levels;
  • That the amount of emissions in 2050 and thereafter is at least 75% less than 2005 levels.
• Gives the DNR rulemaking authority to identify additional greenhouse gases. 

Zero Net Energy Building Goals (Wis. Stat. § 299.03; p. 146)

• Creates a statewide goal that by 2030 each newly constructed residential or commercial building will be a “zero net energy building.”

Statewide Energy Conservation Goals (Wis. Stat. § 299.03; p. 146-47)

• Creates a goal to reduce statewide consumption of electricity in each year by an amount not less than the product of the Public Service Commission’s projection of the statewide consumption of electricity for the year and the following percentages:
  • In 2011, 1 percent.
  • In 2012, 1.25 percent.
  • In 2013, 1.5 percent.
  • In 2014, 1.75 percent.
  • In 2015 and each year thereafter, 2 percent.
• Liquified petroleum gas, heating oil, and natural gas reduction goal
  • Creates a goal to reduce statewide consumption of liquified petroleum gas, heating oil, and natural gas in each year by an amount not less than the product of the Public Service Commission’s projection of the statewide consumption of electricity for the year and the following percentages:
    • In 2011; 0.5 percent.
    • In 2012; 0.75 percent.
    • In 2013 and each year thereafter, 1 percent

Information, Analyses, and Reports (Wis. Stat. §  299.03; p. 147-51)

• Emission and sequestration information.
  
  • Then DNR is required to periodically collect or estimate information concerning all of the following:
    
    • Amounts of greenhouse gas emissions from sectors of this state’s economy, including from stationary and mobile sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and from natural systems in this state associated with various types of land uses.
    • Amounts of carbon sequestered by natural systems in this state associated with various types of land uses.
• Comprehensive accounting system
  
  • The DNR is required to maintain a comprehensive accounting system to estimate the net annual emissions of greenhouse gases from natural systems in this state in 2005 and changes in these emissions in subsequent years due to significant changes in land cover or in the management of land.
    • The department shall ensure that the system identifies greenhouse gas emissions for at least agricultural, forestry, grassland, wetland, urban, and suburban land uses.
  • The DNR shall design and operate the system to produce statistically valid data that can be used to estimate the emissions and changes in emissions and to provide information for the smallest land areas consistent with economic practicality, but in no case larger than a county.
  • The DNR shall include a land cover database in the system.
  • The DNR may design and operate the system to serve other purposes, including use in climate change programs related to public education, the management and supply of bioenergy feedstocks, and sustainable forest management.
• Inventories and analyses
  • The DNR is required to periodically prepare inventories and analyses of the information collected or estimated that include inventories of greenhouse gas emissions from man−made sources in 2005 and of net greenhouse gas emissions from natural systems in 2005 and trends in greenhouse gas emissions from man−made sources and of net greenhouse gas emissions from natural systems adjusted for all of the following:
    
    • Meteorological, economic, and other variable factors that cause significant deviations from normal trends.
    • Changes in energy use, fuel composition, and other factors likely to permanently affect future emissions, or sequestration, of greenhouse gases.
  • Emission reporting requirements.
    
    • The DNR is required to promulgate a rule to revise the air contaminant emissions reporting requirements in effect on the effective date of this bill, to set the reporting level for carbon dioxide at 10,000 tons per year and to require a person owning or operating a stationary source who is required to report carbon dioxide emissions to also report methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the combustion of a solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel.
    • After it complies with the above provision, the DNR may promulgate a rule that modifies the reporting requirements described above.
  • Quadrennial Assessment
    
    • No later than March 1, 2014, and every 4 years thereafter, the DNR shall prepare an assessment of the changes in greenhouse gas emissions in this state and of public and private climate change goals and programs, based on the inventories and analyses and other relevant information. In the assessment, the DNR shall address at least all of the following:
      
      • Whether this state is achieving the applicable greenhouse gas emission reduction goal.
      • Whether the state is making continuous progress in reducing net greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the goal.
      • If this state is not achieving the applicable greenhouse gas emission reduction goal or is not likely to achieve its future greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, proposals for alternative programs for meeting the goals.
      • Whether any state or local governmental climate change goal or nonregulatory program should be modified to make the program more effective at reducing net greenhouse gas emissions or mitigating the effects of climate change or less costly to implement.
      • Whether any state or local governmental climate change goal or nonregulatory program should be modified or created to respond to a new federal initiative relating to climate change or a new scientific understanding of climate change processes or effects.
      • Estimates of the likely reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and of the effects on energy use in this state and on the state’s economy associated with each new program or program change analyzed.
  • Consultation and Assistance
    
    • The DNR shall consult with the climate change coordinating council in fulfilling its duties.
    • Other state agencies shall assist the DNR to the fullest extent possible in fulfilling its duties.
  • Public Review
    
    • The DNR shall provide an opportunity for public review and comment on all of the following:
      
      • The inventories under this section.
      • The methodologies used to estimate the effects of policies and other factors on changes in net emissions of greenhouse gases.
      • The assessments under this section.
  • Policy Review and Report
    
    • No later than June 1, 2014, and every 4 years thereafter, the climate change coordinating council shall submit a report to the legislature and to the governor on all of the following:
      
      • Whether this state is achieving the applicable greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal;
      • Whether the state is making continuous progress in reducing net greenhouse gas emissions; and
      • Whether this state is likely to achieve its future greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and, if not, recommended changes in programs needed to achieve the goals.
      • Other recommended changes in state and local governmental climate change goals and programs.
      • The likely reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and effects on energy use in this state and on the state’s economy associated with each program change recommended.
      • Whether any climate change goals should be modified and whether any new climate change goals should be created.
    • The climate change coordinating council shall base its report on the assessment and other information received by the council.
  • Internet Site
    
    • The DNR, in consultation with the climate change coordinating council, and the administrator of the statewide energy efficiency and renewable resources programs and other appropriate public and private entities providing educational and training programs on climate change to the public shall establish and maintain an Internet site on climate change.
    • The DNR is required to make all of the following available on the Internet site:
      
      • The information under this section.
      • The inventories and analyses under this section.
      • The assessments under this section.
      • The reports under this section.
      • The assessments and reports related to climate change state agencies are required to submit to the DNR or the climate change coordinating council.

Climate Change Coordinating Council (Wis. Stat. §15.347(3); Section 1; pp. 30-31)

• Creation of the Climate Change Coordinating Council:
  • Within the Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR), a new agency known as the Climate Change Coordinating Council is created consisting of the following members:
    • The secretary of administration or his/her designee.
    • The secretary of natural resources or his/her designee.
    • The secretary of commerce or his/her designee.
    • The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or his/her designee.
    • The secretary of health services or his/her designee.
    • The secretary of transportation or his/her designee.
    • The president of the University of Wisconsin System or his/her designee.
    • The chairperson of the public service commission or his/her designee.
    • The executive director of the office of energy independence or his/her designee.
    • One person to represent the governor, appointed to a 4-year term.
  • A person who is authorized to appoint a designee may only appoint a designee who is an employee or appointive officer of the person’s agency.
• Duties of the Council
  
  • The council shall prepare reports under this section.
  • The council shall assist state agencies in improving and coordinating their programs relating to climate change.
  • The council, in consultation with the administrator of the statewide energy efficiency and renewable resources programs and other appropriate public and private entities providing educational and training programs on climate change to the public shall promote and coordinate state educational and training programs related to climate change, including programs that provide information on all of the following:
    • Statewide goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other related statewide goals for reducing the consumption of fossil fuels.
    • Assessments of changes in greenhouse gas emissions in this state and of state climate change goals and programs.
    • Activities by state agencies to meet goals for the reductions of their greenhouse gas emissions and to meet their related goals for energy efficiency and the use of energy derived from renewable sources.
    • State, local, and federal governmental programs related to or affecting climate change.
    • Actions that persons can take to reduce the amount of their greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Other significant mitigation and adaptation strategies that address climate change.
    • The causes and effects of climate change.
  • The council shall give priority to promoting and coordinating programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and to undergraduate and graduate students and their teachers.
• Subcommittees
  
  • The council may create subcommittees to assist in its work. The council may appoint to its subcommittees members of the council, employees of the agencies with members on the council, employees of other state agencies, representatives of counties and municipalities, and others.
  • The council shall consider the need for subcommittees on the subjects within the scope of its duties and other subjects determined to be appropriate by the council.