Massachusetts Set to Have Tightest GHG Emissions Limits

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick on Aug. 7 signed into law a measure that establishes the strongest cap in the country on economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mandating reductions of up to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs must promulgate regulations regarding the reporting and verification of emissions no later than Jan.1, 2009. Actual reporting begins in April 2009 for the sectors named in the statute, specifically, facilities that are required to report air emissions data to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to Title V of the Clean Air Act, and facilities that have stationary emissions sources which emit over 5,000 tons of GHGs.

The Massachusetts legislature approved the measure on July 31. The Global Warming Solutions Act also calls for interim targets for 2030 and 2040. Also included in the measure are tough penalties for violators, with civil fines of up to $25,000 per day for emission violations.

By comparison, California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (A.B. 32) requires emissions to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020.

Contact: NPCA's John Hopewell for more information.

Source: October 2008 Coatings, posted 9/16/08