BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1496
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Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Jimmy Gomez, Chair
AB
1496 (Thurmond) - As Amended May 6, 2015
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to undertake
activities and analyses relating to methane gas emissions.
Specifically, this bill requires ARB to:
AB 1496
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1)In consultation with local air districts that monitor methane,
undertake monitoring and measurements of high emission methane
"hot spots" as a short-lived climate pollutant using the best
available scientific and technical methods.
2)Carry out life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) analysis
of natural gas produced and imported into California, using
the best available scientific and technical methods.
3)Update GHG factors for natural gas-fueled electric power
generation and the use of natural gas as a transportation
fuel.
4)Review, in consultation with independent scientific experts,
the most recent available scientific data and reports on the
atmospheric reactivity of methane as a precursor to the
formation of photochemical oxidant and evaluate whether
methane should be reclassified as a contributor to the
formation of air pollution.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1)Increased annual staffing costs of $525,000 and contract costs
of $700,000 for the ARB to monitor and measure methane hot
spots (Cost of Implementation Fund).
2)Increased annual staffing costs of $350,000 and contract costs
of $200,000for the ARB to perform natural gas life cycle GHG
emissions analyses and update GHG factors for natural gas
transportation fuels (Cost of Implementation Fund).
COMMENTS:
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1)Rationale. Methane is a gas that is emitted from both natural
and human sources. Its concentration in the global atmosphere
has more than doubled since the beginning of the Industrial
Revolution. Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP)
with a lifetime of only about 12 years when released into the
atmosphere. It is an extremely potent GHG, with 20-30 times
the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period
(and more than 80 times over a 20-year period). Methane also
impacts local air quality and community health through its
participation in the formation of ozone.
According to the author, it is imperative that methane leakage
is studied without delay because of its proven negative impact
on both snow pack levels and local air pollution. This bill
requires ARB to undertake activities and analyses and
determine whether methane should be reclassified as a
contributor to the formation of air pollution.
2)Background. AB 32 required ARB to adopt a statewide GHG
emissions limit equivalent to 1990 levels by 2020 and adopt
regulations to achieve maximum technologically feasible and
cost-effective GHG emission reductions, AB 32 requires ARB to
prepare and approve a scoping plan at five-year intervals.
The first AB 32 scoping plan, adopted by ARB in 2008,
described the specific measures ARB and others must take to
reduce statewide GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
In May 2014, ARB adopted a scoping plan update. Among its
provisions, the update commits ARB to developing a SLCP
strategy by 2015 that will include an inventory of sources and
emissions, the identification of additional research needs,
and a plan for developing control measures.
Additionally, SB 605 (Lara), Chapter 523, Statutes of 2014,
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requires ARB to complete a comprehensive SLCP strategy by
January 1, 2016.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081