AB 2363, as introduced, Quirk. Greenhouse gases: offsets.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The state board is required to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020, and to adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum, technologically feasible, and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms.
This bill would require the state board to adopt regulations providing for the generation of offset credits that may be used, sold, or traded pursuant to a market-based compliance mechanism that the state board may adopt for forest management activities performed for the purpose of reducing the risk of severe wildfires and activities involving the application of biochar, as defined, to soil.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(1) Forests are critical elements of the California economy and
4ecosystems.
5(2) Forest fires have devastated large tracts of California’s
6forested land, a trend that has exacerbated in recent years. Fourteen
7of the 20 largest recorded wildfires in California’s history have
8occurred within the last 20 years.
9(3) Climate change is likely to increase the risk of wildfire by
10disrupting rain cycles, increasing average temperatures and dry
11season duration, and forcing changes in species’ habitat range.
12(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote the use of
13biomass generated from activities that reduce the risk of wildfire
14for the purposes of renewable energy production for activities that
15do not harm the long-term ecological health and sustainability of
16the forest.
Section 38575 is added to the Health and Safety Code,
18to read:
(a) As used in this section, “biochar” means biomass
20that is a solid carbonaceous byproduct of pyrolysis or gasification
21that may be used as a feedstock for renewable energy generation.
22(b) The state board shall adopt regulations providing for the
23generation of offset credits that may be used, sold, or traded
24pursuant to a market-based compliance mechanism that the state
25board may adopt pursuant to this part for both of the following:
26(1) (A) Forest management activities that are performed for
27the purpose of reducing the risk of severe wildlife that include,
28but are not limited to, underbrush removal, dead tree removal, and
29selective thinning of tree
stands.
30(B) Activities receiving offset credits shall be performed in
31compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including the
32Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 (Chapter 8
33(commencing with Section 4511) of Part 2 of Division 4 of the
34Public Resources Code).
35(C) The amount of offset credits generated shall be in proportion
36to the expected reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases
37due to the decreased likelihood of severe wildfires resulting from
38the activities.
P3 1(D) The offset credits shall be issued to the entity performing
2the activities.
3(2) (A) Application of biochar to soil that is in compliance with
4all applicable laws and regulations and the best management
5practices for the management of the soil.
6(B) The amount of offset credits generated shall equal the
7expected long-term sequestration of carbon in soils to which the
8biochar is applied.
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