Issue a statewide GHG emissions report.

Date Due:: 01/01/2022
Responsible Entity:: DEC
Action:: Issue a statewide GHG emissions report.
Summary:: Within 2 years, and each year thereafter, the DEC will issue a statewide GHG emissions report from all GHG sources in the state. The report will include an estimate of what the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level was in 1990 and use best available science, methods, and data.
Status:: EXECUTED: DEC has published its 2023 Statewide GHG Emissions Report and 2021 Statewide GHG Emissions Report, which both include a summary report and various sectoral reports.
Statute:: CLCPA § 2 adds new ECL § 75-0105(1)-(7)

The CLCPA instructs the DEC to issue a report on statewide greenhouse gas emissions, expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, from all greenhouse gas emission sources in the state, including the relative contribution of each type of greenhouse gas and each type of source to the statewide total.

DEC has published its 2021 Statewide GHG Emissions Report, which includes a summary report and various sectoral reports.

Statutory Language:

CLCPA §2 ECL §75-0105 (1)-(7): “No later than two years after the effective date of this article, and each year thereafter, the department shall issue a report on statewide greenhouse gas emissions, expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, from all greenhouse gas emission sources in the state, including the relative contribution of each type of greenhouse gas and each type of source to the statewide total.

2. The statewide greenhouse gas emissions report shall be a comprehensive evaluation, informed by a variety of data, including but not limited to:
a. information relating to the use of fossil fuels by sector, including for electricity generation, transportation, heating, and other combustion purposes;
b. information relating to fugitive and vented emissions from systems associated with the production, processing, transport, distribution, storage, and consumption of fossil fuels, including natural gas;
c. information relating to emissions from non-fossil fuel sources, including, but not limited to, garbage incinerators, biomass combustion, landfills and landfill gas generators, and anaerobic digesters;
d. information relating to emissions associated with manufacturing, chemical production, cement plants, and other processes that produce non-combustion emissions; and e. information from sources that may be required to participate in the registration and reporting system pursuant to subdivision four of this section.

3. The statewide greenhouse gas emissions report shall also include an estimate of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation of imported electricity and with the extraction and transmission of fossil fuels imported into the state which shall be counted as part of the statewide total.

4. Within one year after the effective date of this article, the department shall consider establishing a mandatory registry and reporting system from individual sources to obtain data on greenhouse gas emissions exceeding a particular threshold. If established, such registry and reporting system shall apply a consistent reporting threshold to ensure the unbiased collection of data.

5. The statewide greenhouse gas emissions report shall also include an estimate of what the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level was in 1990.

6. The statewide greenhouse gas emissions report shall utilize best available science and methods of analysis, including the comparison and reconciliation of emission estimates from all sources, fuel consumption, field data, and peer-reviewed research.

7. The statewide greenhouse gas emissions report shall clearly explain the methodology and analysis used in the department's determination of greenhouse gas emissions and shall include a detailed explanation of any changes in methodology or analysis, adjustments made to prior estimates, as needed, and any other information necessary to establish a scientifically credible account of change.”

The report must include:

Information relating to the use of fossil fuels by sector, including for electricity generation, transportation, heating, and other combustion purposes;
Information relating to fugitive and vented emissions from systems associated with the production, processing, transport, distribution, storage, and consumption of fossil fuels, including natural gas;
Information relating to emissions from non-fossil fuel sources, including but not limited to, garbage incinerators, biomass combustion, landfills and landfill gas generators, and anaerobic digesters;
Information relating to emissions associated with manufacturing, chemical production, cement plants, and other processes that produce non-combustion emissions;
Information from sources that may be required to participate in the registration and reporting system pursuant to subdivision four of this section.
An estimate of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation of imported electricity and with the extraction and transmission of fossil fuels imported into the state which shall be counted as part of the statewide total.
An estimate of what the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level was in 1990.

The report must:

Utilize best available science and methods of analysis, including the comparison and reconciliation of emission estimates from all sources, fuel consumption, field data, and peer-reviewed research;
Clearly explain the methodology and analysis used in the DEC’s determination of greenhouse gas emissions;
Include a detailed explanation of any changes in methodology or analysis, adjustments made to prior estimates, as needed, and any other information necessary to establish a scientifically credible account of change.