SB 375 - RTAC Issues Final Report on Setting Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets
The latest step in the implementation of SB 375, a report issued by the Regional Targets Advisory Committee (RTAC) recommending methodologies for setting regional greenhouse gas (GhG) targets, was published yesterday. SB 375 requires that the California Air Resource Board (CARB) set regional GhG targets for passenger vehicles and light trucks for 2020 and 2035 by September 30, 2010 for the 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in the state. CARB’s target was initially set a five million metric tons reduction for transportation related planning programs. The RTAC, tasked with researching factors and methodologies to be considered in establishing the GhG targets, finalized and published its report on September 29. For more information on the RTAC process, see our previous blawg post.
The RTAC's final conclusions are especially relevant for localities amending their general plans in the next couple of years. The RTAC Report recommends that the targets be expressed as percent per-capita GhG reduction from the base year of 2005. Targets would be the most ambitious achievable for that region in order to respond to regional differences. The Report recommends that CARB create a list of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for tools to be used in target setting, target compliance and accuracy checks. The Report also recognizes that funding will be critical for the success of SB 375 and that the $90 million appropriation made by SB 732 for sustainability planning is not nearly enough funding for local governments to implement SB 375. To this end, the Report includes four pages of suggestions for the state in directing funds towards transit and sustainability planning in SB 375.
Going forward, the RTAC has recommended following steps for CARB to take in setting the targets: 1) MPOs must first prepare an analysis of their adopted fiscally constrained Regional Transportation Plan; 2) CARB uses these results to compile MPO-specific GhG emission levels for 2005 and GhG targets for 2020 and 2035; 3) CARB creates “most achievable ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction” strategies to achieve targets; 4) MPOs analyze strategies; 5) CARB considers stakeholder feedback; 6) CARB recommends draft targets; 7) Final emission targets are set by September, 2010.
Much of the success of SB 375 hinges on the stringency of the GhG targets set by CARB and the funding available to localities for SB 375 implementation.
