Carbon dioxide; regulating emissions. (SB615)

Introduced By

Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson) with support from 12 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Tom Garrett (R-Louisa), Sen. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake), Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Mount Solon), Sen. Ryan McDougle (R-Mechanicsville), Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach), Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg), Sen. Phil Puckett (D-Tazewell), Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania), Sen. Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke), Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta), Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Westmoreland), Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Regulating carbon dioxide emissions. Establishes the process for adopting state carbon dioxide (CO2) requirements consistent with the emission guidelines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to propose under 111d of the Clean Air Act for regulating CO2 emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units in June 2014. The bill requires the State Air Pollution Control Board to establish separate CO2 performance standards for coal-fired and gas-fired electric generating units on a case-by-case basis, and based on the best system of emission reduction that has been adequately demonstrated and can be reasonably achieved through measures undertaken at each unit, without requiring the unit to switch fuel. The bill requires the Board to consider on a case-by-case basis whether less stringent performance standards than those required by EPA's Emission Guidelines are warranted, taking into account seven enumerated criteria. Once the Board determines appropriate performance standards, the Board, to the "maximum extent permissible," is to implement the performance standards through flexible regulatory mechanisms, including emissions averaging or emissions trading. Finally, the bill prohibits the state from submitting any 111d plan to EPA inconsistent with the bill, except as is necessary to comply with federal regulations. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/15/2014Presented and ordered printed 14103858D
01/15/2014Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
01/30/2014Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitite (15-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/30/2014Committee substitute printed 14104538D-S1
02/03/2014Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/04/2014Read second time
02/04/2014Reading of substitute waived
02/04/2014Committee substitute agreed to 14104538D-S1
02/04/2014Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB615S1
02/05/2014Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 1-N)
02/07/2014Placed on Calendar
02/07/2014Read first time
02/07/2014Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
02/10/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB615S1)
02/25/2014Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (21-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/27/2014Read second time
02/28/2014Read third time
02/28/2014Committee amendment agreed to
02/28/2014Engrossed by House as amended
02/28/2014Passed House with amendment (91-Y 6-N)
02/28/2014VOTE: PASSAGE (91-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
03/04/2014House amendment agreed to by Senate (38-Y 2-N)
03/06/2014Enrolled
03/06/2014Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB615ER)
03/06/2014Signed by Speaker
03/07/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB615ER)
03/09/2014Signed by President
04/07/2014G Approved by Governor-Chapter 756 (effective 7/1/14)
04/07/2014G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0756)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 3 clips in all, totaling 5 minutes.