ARB Energy Activities

Overview

In 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Act), into law. The Act requires the Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) in coordination with other agencies to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Therefore, the Energy Activities page provides information on ARB's AB 32 activities as they are related to energy, in addition to continuing to provide access to ARB's Distributed Generation Program and Power Plant Guidance pages. For more information regarding ARB's Energy Activities click on "contacts" on the left navigation bar.

Combined Heat and Power Systems Home Page

AB 32 mandates ARB to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels be 2020 and to prepare a Scoping Plan detailing possible methods to meet this goal. One of the possible emission reductions measures contained within ARB's Draft Scoping Plan would increase the use of combined heat and power (CHP) systems. CHP refers to any system that generates electricity and useful thermal energy.

Distributed Generation Home Page

On September 25, 2000, Governor Davis signed Senate Bill 1298 (SB 1298). This bill requires the ARB to adopt a certification program for Distributed Generation (DG) units that are exempt from local air district permits and to issue guidance for DG units that are subject to district permit.

SF₆ for Electricity Sector and Particle Accelerators Home Page

AB 32 requires ARB to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) is a very potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential approximately 23,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO₂). ARB staff has included the reduction of SF₆ emissions from the electricity sector and particle accelerators as a possible emission reduction measure within its Proposed Scoping Plan.

Guidance Resources For Power Plants Home Page

The ARB adopted "Guidance for Power Plant Siting and Best Available Control Technology" to assist the districts in making permitting decisions as the districts participate in the California Energy Commission's power plant siting process. The guidance outlines ARB staff's position on air quality-related issues for power plant projects. The guidance is intended to provide district staff with information to promote the siting of new power plants that utilize best available control technology, and that are constructed and operated in a way that eliminates or minimizes adverse air quality impacts. Power plant proponents may also find the guidance useful when developing and planning a proposed power plant project.

In addition to the Board's "Guidance for Power Plant Siting and Best Available Control Technology" this site also includes a number of links to ARB resources associated with energy and power generation. This site includes information on Emission Reduction Offsets Transaction Costs, Best Available Control Technology Clearinghouse, Air District Contacts for the Registry of Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs), Offset Packages for Recently-Evaluated Power Plants, Emission Control Technologies for Recently-Evaluated Power Plants, Mobile Source Emission Reduction Credits, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD), the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association Risk Assessment Guidelines, and New Source Review Guidance.

Please consider joining one or more of ARB's Energy related list serves.

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