BILL ANALYSIS
SB 104
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 104 (Oropeza)
As Amended April 30, 2009
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :21-17
NATURAL RESOURCES 6-3 APPROPRIATIONS 11-5
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|Ayes:|Skinner, Brownley, |Ayes:|De Leon, Ammiano, Charles |
| |Chesbro, | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, |
| |De Leon, Hill, Huffman | |Fuentes, Hall, |
| | | |John A. Perez, Skinner, |
| | | |Solorio, Torlakson |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+----------------------------|
|Nays:|Gilmore, Knight, Logue |Nays:|Nielsen, Duvall, Harkey, |
| | | |Miller, |
| | | |Audra Strickland |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Adds nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and any other greenhouse
gas (GHG) designated by the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change to the list of GHGs regulated by the Air Resources
Board (ARB) pursuant to the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB
32). Requires ARB to adopt emission limits and reduction measures
within two years for any gas added to the list of GHGs pursuant to
this bill.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires ARB, by January 1, 2011, to adopt GHG emission limits and
emission reduction measures by regulation to achieve the maximum
technologically feasible and cost-effective GHG emission
reductions, to become operative beginning January 1, 2012.
2)Defines GHG to include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee,
negligible costs.
SB 104
Page 2
COMMENTS : Recent scientific studies have shown NF3 to be an
extremely potent GHG. NF3 is not included in the list of six GHGs
in AB 32, which was based on the gases included in the Kyoto
Protocol negotiated through the UN Framework in 1997. The author
cites two 2008 studies regarding NF3 and notes that NF3 "was not
widely used in the 1990s when the Kyoto Protocol was negotiated, and
until these two studies were released many in science, industry and
government believed that NF3 was a harmless replacement to other
damaging gases used by industries." According to the author,
studies found that NF3 has a global warming potential 17,000 times
greater than CO2, persists in the atmosphere 550 years, and is used
in the manufacture of several consumer items, including photovoltaic
solar panels, LCD television screens, and microprocessors.
Analysis Prepared by : Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092 FN: 0001975