54.16.390 - Environmental mitigation activities. - Washington Statutes

Environmental mitigation activities.

(1) A public utility district may develop and make publicly available a plan for the district to reduce its greenhouse gases emissions or achieve no-net emissions from all sources of greenhouse gases that the district owns, leases, uses, contracts for, or otherwise controls.

     (2) A public utility district may, as part of its utility operation, mitigate the environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gases emissions, of its operation and any power purchases. Mitigation may include, but is not limited to, those greenhouse gases mitigation mechanisms recognized by independent, qualified organizations with proven experience in emissions mitigation activities. Mitigation mechanisms may include the purchase, trade, and banking of greenhouse gases offsets or credits. If a state greenhouse gases registry is established, a public utility district that has purchased, traded, or banked greenhouse gases mitigation mechanisms under this section shall receive credit in the registry.

[2007 c 349 § 4.]

Notes: Finding -- Intent -- 2007 c 349 § 4: "The legislature finds and declares that greenhouse gases offset contracts, credits, and other greenhouse gases mitigation efforts are a recognized utility purpose that confers a direct benefit on the utility's ratepayers. The legislature declares that section 4 of this act is intended to reverse the result of Okeson v. City of Seattle (January 18, 2007), by expressly granting public utility districts the statutory authority to engage in mitigation activities to offset their utility's impact on the environment." [2007 c 349 § 3.]