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State Activities
more
information.
States are taking significant action to curb greenhouse gases. In Region 9, California is leading a coalition of states in efforts to address climate change. EPA is working closely with all of our state partners to provide funding and to help assess and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This page provides information on current emissions inventories and state climate change activities.
The emissions from this region account for approximately 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with California accounting for the vast majority of those emissions due to the high population in this state. Region 9 states have lower per capita emissions than the national average, in part reflecting the warmer climate and decreased need for heating in the winter. California and Arizona also produce less carbon intensive energy than the nation as a whole, partially due to the use of hydropower and nuclear in these states.
Arizona
Arizona Emissions (CO2-EQ)
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 2000: 92.3 MMTCO2-Eq: 1.2% of total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Carbon Intensity: 506 mTCO2-Eq/GWh: 19% below national average for emissions per unit energy
Per capita carbon emissions: 14 mTCO2-Eq/person/yr: 36% below national average per capita carbon emissions
The Arizona Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG) 
Climate Change Action Plan was accepted and on Sept. 8, 2006, Executive Order 2006-13 was signed. This legislation established a statewide goal to reduce Arizona's future GHG emissions to the 2000 emissions level by the year 2020, and to 50% below the 2000 level by 2040. The Executive Order also created the Climate Change Executive Committee under the direction of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to begin implementing Action Plan recommendations.
Arizona’s greenhouse gas emissions are rising rapidly compared with the nation as a whole, driven by the rapid pace of Arizona’s population and economic growth. Arizona’s greenhouse gas emissions were up 51% from 1990 to 2000, while national emissions rose by 23% during this period. Arizona also exports a large amount of electricity, especially to southern California. It is also the home to the highest capacity nuclear power plant in the United States, Palo Verde, and has the highest solar potential of anywhere in the country due to the large desert expanses.
Reports and Resources
- Arizona Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reference Case Projections, 1990-2020 (PDF)
- Energy Information Administration State Profiles
Agencies
- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- Arizona Department of Commerce: Energy Office
- Arizona Corporation Commission
California
California Emissions (CO2-EQ)
Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2006: 479.8 MMTCO2-Eq: 6.8 % of total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Carbon Intensity: 273 mTCO2-Eq/GWh: 56% below national average for emissions per unit energy
Per capita carbon emissions: 13 mTCO2-Eq/person/year: 44% below national average per capita emissions
California is the fifteenth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, producing 479.8 million metric mple of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCO2-Eq) according to the most recent 2005 inventory of emissions. Transportation accounts for a much larger portion of emissions than other states, with 38% of emissions coming from this sector. Although California clearly has significant emissions, in comparison the national average, it has significantly lower per capita energy consumption and has fewer emissions per unit energy. With a history of decades of investment in energy efficiency via utility efficiency programs, building standards, and appliance standards, California continues to play a leadership role in energy efficiency and emissions reduction and recently passed climate change legislation.
In 2006, the Legislature passed and Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which requires by law that California reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. It directed the California Air Resources Board to begin developing discrete early actions to reduce greenhouse gases while also preparing a scoping plan to identify how best to reach the 2020 limit. The reduction measures to meet the 2020 target are to be adopted by the start of 2011.
Reports and Resources
- Draft 2009 Climate Action Team Biennial Report to the Governor and Legislature
Report consolidates new compelling research on impacts of climate change on California. - California 2004 Emissions (PDF)
- Indicators of Climate Change in California, April 2009 (PDF)
- California Climate Change Portal
- Energy Information Administration State Profiles
The State of California is progressively moving forward to implement clean energy and climate change initiatives under AB 32. Several initiatives include the following:
- Decoupled Utilities: Utilities receive profits for cutting energy consumption rather than increasing it
- Net metering: Distributed renewables tie into the grid, providing cost benefits to renewables producing at peak times
- Feed-in-Tariffs: Utilities or end-users fund renewable electricity by paying for production at above-market rates
- Energy Building Codes
Agencies
- California Air Resources Board Climate Change Program
- California Energy Commission Climate Change
- California Climate Change Research Center
- California Public Utilities Commission
- California Environmental Protection Agency
Hawaii
Hawaii Emissions (CO2-EQ)
Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2007: 21.5 MMTCO2-Eq: 0.31% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon Intensity: 784 mTCO2-Eq/GWh: 24% above national average for emissions per unit energy
Per capita carbon emissions: 17 mTCO2-Eq/person/year: 28% below national average per capita emissions
Hawaii is located in a unique environment with little need for winter heating and large potential for renewables including solar, wind, and geothermal. Currently, close to nine-tenths of Hawaii’s energy comes from imported petroleum. Hawaii, like California, has more than half of its per capita emissions from transportation. However, a much smaller proportion of the state’s transportation emissions are due to gasoline usage, and a much higher fraction comes from jet fuel.
Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, established the State’s policy framework and requirements to address Hawaii’s greenhouse gas emissions, recognizing the potential adverse effects of the recent climate change and global warming to Hawaii’s economy, public health, natural resources, and environment. This act was modeled after California’s AB 32 and limits greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, excluding airplanes. Hawaii has also established a Clean Energy Initiative which sets the goal of achieving 70% renewables by 2030.
Reports and Resources
- Hawaii Greenhouse Gas Inventory: 1990 and 2007
- Energy Information Administration State Profiles: Hawaii
Agencies
Nevada
Nevada Emissions (CO2-EQ)
Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2005: 49.5 MMTCO2-Eq: 0.7% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon Intensity: 645 mTCO2-Eq/GWh: 4% above national average for emissions per unit energy
Per capita carbon emissions: 22 mTCO2/person/year: 12% below national average per capita emissions
Nevada’s gross GHG emissions are rising faster than those of the nation as a whole, increasing 62% from 1990 to 2004, while national emissions rose by only 16% during this period. Rapid population growth has been the most important driver in emissions growth in Nevada, with annual population growth from 1990 to 2005 of 4.9%. Much of this population growth has taken place near Las Vegas, which also adds to emissions in the state through air travel.
On May 31, 2008, the Nevada Climate Change Advisory Committee submitted their final report to the governor which included 28 specific recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emmissions in the state. These recommendations range from creating a State Action Plan to modifying the renewable energy portfolio standards
Reports and Resources
Agencies
- Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
- Nevada State Office of Energy
- Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
Sources for Carbon Intensity
- Energy Information Administration, Net Generation by State by Type of Producer by Energy Source
- Energy Information Administration, U.S. Electric Power Industry Estimated Emissions by State
State-By-State Comparison of Greenhouse Gas Policy
| Status of Energy and Climate Policies in the Pacific Southwest | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Policy | California | Arizona | Hawaii | Nevada |
| Greenhouse gas reduction goal | 2020: 1990 levels | 2020: 2000 levels 2040: 50% below 2000 levels |
2020: 1990 levels | |
| Renewable Portfolio Standard: Goal for the percent of power produced renewably | 2010: 20 % 2020: 33 % (pending) | 2025: 15% | 2010: 10% 2015: 15% 2020: 25% 2030: 40% |
2025: 25% |
| Regional initiatives | Western Climate Initiative | Western Climate Initiative, Southwest Climate Change Initiative | Western Climate Initiative | |
| Decoupled Utilities: Utilities receive profits for cutting energy consumption rather than increasing it | √ | |||
| Net metering: Distributed renewables tie into the grid, providing cost benefits to renewables producing at peak times | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Feed-in-Tariffs: Utilities or end-users fund renewable electricity by paying for production at above-market rates | √ | |||
| Energy Building Codes | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Source for this data: Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency |
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