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Minnesota Shines Light on High GWP Gases

Minnesota Shines Light on High GWP Gases. Allison Wolf Legislative Director Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. Overview. Minnesota’s unique perspective Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy Our work on climate change

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Minnesota Shines Light on High GWP Gases

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  1. Minnesota Shines Light on High GWP Gases Allison Wolf Legislative Director Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

  2. Overview • Minnesota’s unique perspective • Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy • Our work on climate change • The development of our legislation on high Global Warming Potential Gases • The components of the new law • Tips for other states

  3. Another Natural Wonder of the World

  4. A State with “natural air conditioning” • Our thousands of lakes provide natural air conditioning • Minnesota has the coldest winter temperatures in the nation

  5. Fun in “Ice Box of the Nation”

  6. But it gets hot in Minnesota too…. • Minnesota’s weather ranges from 60 degrees below zero to 100 degrees on the hottest of summer days

  7. A State that Appreciates “Sunshine” • Minnesota believes that information can promote change • Pharmaceutical companies must disclose payments to doctors • Data privacy laws require public access to information • Lobbyists must disclose all costs of lobbying

  8. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) The legal and scientific voice protecting and defending Minnesota’s environment

  9. Recent MCEA Legislative Successes • Clean Water Legacy • Great Lakes Compact • Renewable energy standard • Environmental Health Tracking • Dedicated funding for habitat and clean water • Funding for Transit, Roads and Bridges • Energy Efficiency—carbon neutral by 2030

  10. Protecting Our Region from Global Warming Artist’s rendering of Big Stone II from www.bigstoneii.com

  11. Litigation to stop new coal plants Renewable Electricity Goals Energy Efficiency Efforts

  12. Advocating for Better Transit Options

  13. Minnesota’s Climate Change Plan • Governor appointed a 55-member stakeholder group • Center for Climate Strategies facilitated • MCEA Board member Chuck Dayton appointed by Governor • Chuck Dayton pushed through a recommendation on High GWP gases

  14. High GWP recommendation • Minnesota’s Climate Change group addressed High Potential Greenhouse Gases • The group recommended a rulemaking to phase out use of the gases where cost-effective substitutes are available • The recommendation was unanimously supported and had one of the lowest costs

  15. Developing Minnesota’s Legislation We had to develop specific legislation rather than a general rulemaking We decided to draft legislation as a first step in addressing high GWP emissions Experts suggested we consider addressing Mobile Air Conditioning

  16. Minnesota Legislation: Major Components • Posting of MAC leakage rates for new cars • Reporting requirement to gain understanding of emission sources • Options for phasing out products • Originally banned small “DIY” cans of refrigerant, as our neighbor Wisconsin has done

  17. Posting of Leakage Rates • State websites will post leakage rates of new vehicle models • Leakage rates determined with SAE International J2727 • Vehicle manufacturers submit leakage rates 90 days before selling a new model in the state • Reports required beginning January 2009

  18. Reporting Requirement • Reports by purchasers and manufacturers • To Minnesota Pollution Control Agency -- Of total amounts after October 1, 2008 • HFCs, PFCs, or SF6 (500 MTCO2e or more)

  19. Options for Phasing out Products • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency • Must report to the legislature in 2009 • Must list options for phasing out high GWP substances • Where cost effective • Where substitutes available

  20. We agreed to removal of the “can ban” • No organized opposition emerged • The “can ban” got all the attention: “My wife just recharged her car air conditioner by herself! Are you going to ban her from doing that?” • One legislator said the bill was drafted by someone with a ponytail eating granola under a tree. • We agreed to remove the “can ban” to avoid a messy battle on the House floor

  21. Advice for other states • Build on momentum in your state • Climate change plan • Industry-government partnership • Be ambitious but realistic • Include provisions in the bill that you are willing to remove

  22. Seek expert advice • Experts were critical to our success • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • SAE International • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency • California Air Resources Board

  23. Work for Support • Emphasize need to involve all sectors of economy in climate change efforts: FAIRNESS • Work with seasoned, effective legislators • Emphasize low cost and even potential cost savings

  24. Minnesota Legislation • Websites with MAC leakage rates will be available at www.pca.mn.us/ (Pollution Control Agency) and www.ag.state.mn.us/ (Attorney General). • The text of the Minnesota Legislation can be found at this link: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/laws/?id=296&doctype=Chapter&year=2008&type=0

  25. What lies ahead • Our state’s climate change plan calls for 46 actions • All must be accomplished • Many are difficult • Multi-faceted approach will be needed • “Knowledge is power” • We feel the 2008 legislation lays the groundwork for future action

  26. Glacier National Park • 1910: 150 Glaciers Today: 30 glaciers

  27. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy • www.mncenter.org

  28. The new leakage rate law • Sec. 23. [216H.12] MOBILE AIR CONDITIONER LEAKAGE RATES; DISCLOSURE.Subdivision 1.Leakage disclosure.Beginning January 1, 2009, a manufacturer selling or offering for sale a new motor vehicle in this state containing a mobile air conditioner that uses the high-GWP greenhouse gas HFC-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) as a refrigerant must, 90 days prior to the initial sale or offer for sale, report to the commissioner the leakage rate, in grams of refrigerant per year, for the type of mobile air conditioner contained in that make, model, and model year. The leakage rate must be calculated using the information provided in the most recently published version of the SAE International document J2727, "HFC-134a Mobile Air Conditioning System Emission Chart." The method by which the leakage rate is calculated, accounting for each component of the air conditioning unit, must also be reported to the commissioner..

  29. The new leakage rate law • Subd. 2.Posting.Beginning January 1, 2009, the agency and the Office of the Attorney General must post on their Web sites:(1) the leakage rate disclosed by a manufacturer under subdivision 1 for each model and make of new motor vehicle sold or offered for sale in this state; and(2) the following statement: "Vehicle air conditioning systems may leak refrigerants. Information provided in the chart compares the potential global warming effects of refrigerant leakage from different makes and models of vehicles."EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment

  30. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy • www.mncenter.org

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