Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance Standard

The PUC adopted an interim Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) in an effort to help mitigate climate change. This first-of-its-kind Emissions Performance Standard is a facility-based emissions standard requiring that all new long-term commitments for baseload generation to serve California consumers be with power plants that have emissions no greater than a combined cycle gas turbine plant. That level is established at 1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour. "New long-term commitment" refers to new plant investments (new construction), new or renewal contracts with a term of five years or more, or major investments by the utility in its existing baseload power plants.

January 25, 2007 Press Release and Fact Sheet on interim GHG EPS.
April 17, 2006 ruling, which notices a Pre-Hearing conference on May 10, 2006, and also proposes the schedule for the first phase of the proceeding and requests comments on the schedule as well as key issues identified in the Ruling.

Proceeding Overview:

FINAL Emissions Performance Standard Workshop Report issued October 2, 2006
Key CPUC Actions related to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, September 2006
Draft Workshop Report issued August 21, 2006 for Comment
June 21, 2006 Workshop in R.0604009 to address Phase 1 threshold policy and implementation issues for an interim greenhouse gas performance standard.
- Emissions Calculation for Cogeneration presented by Energy Producers and Users Coalition and Cogeneration Association of California at June 21-23, 2006 Workshop
- DSP Directions For Phase1 Post Workshop Comments
- Data Requested at the June 21 Workshop

PUC to set cap on greenhouse gas emissions produced while generating electricity.

Proceeding Documents

Last Modified: 1/9/2009