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Methane and Non-CO2 Pollutants

Cut methane, refrigerants, fluorinated gases, and other potent climate pollutants through targeted standards, monitoring, and leak prevention.

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139 resources

Resource States and State Governments

RMI report, State Energy Policy in a Land of New Federal Opportunity

The Rocky Mountain Institute offers this 2024 guide to new and expanded federal funding programs, and highlights opportunities for states to pass and pay for clean energy policies. The report highligh...
Example States and State Governments

Maine Nutrient Management Act

Maine’s Nutrient Management Act bans winter manure spreading from December 1st through March 15th, which reduces aeration of nitrous oxide.
Example States and State Governments

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plans

Six Chesapeake Bay Watershed jurisdictions – Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and the District of Columbia – are part of a federal-state initiative to develop and i...
Example Executive Branch

NY/NJ Port Authority Truck Replacement Program

The Port Authority established a grant program to help truck owners finance the purchase of 2013-or-newer engines, up to $25,000 apiece, for trucks that service the port frequently and currently have ...
Resource Congress

Report, Nitrogen Management Project Protocol

The Climate Action Reserve’s Nitrogen Management Project Protocol provides guidance on how to quantify, monitor, and verify greenhouse gas emission reductions from improving nitrogen use efficiency in...
Example States and State Governments

Maryland Nutrient Management Law

Maryland’s Nutrient Management Law requires all farmers using chemical fertilizer or manure to have a nutrient management plan for nitrogen. Fertilizer may not be applied to frozen ground, which reduc...
Example Executive Branch

CAA §202(a)(3) – Engine Retrofits

Clean Air Act §202(a)(3) authorizes EPA to regulate the rebuilding of heavy-duty vehicle engines. For any engine built after 2004, a rebuild of that engine must bring it up to performance standards co...
Example Executive Branch

EPA’s SNAP Program

EPA’s SNAP Program was established under Section 612 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7671k, et seq.) to identify and evaluate substitutes for ozone-depleting substances. The program looks at overall...
Resource Executive Branch

Report, Lost But Not Forgotten: The Hidden Environmental Costs of Compensating Pipelines for Natural Gas Losses

Webb’s 2015 report examines the current frameworks for recovery of lost and unaccounted-for gas in each U.S. jurisdiction, and recommends changes to those frameworks to encourage improved management o...
Example States and State Governments

Colorado’s Midstream Oil and Gas Emissions Regulations

In December, 2024, the Colorado Air Control Commission adopted a new rule addressing greenhouse gas emissions from midstream fuel combustion equipment such as engines, turbines, and heaters. Fuel comb...
Resource Congress

EPRI Report, Creating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Offsets by Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Agricultural Crop Production

EPRI’s 2013 report sought to define a scientifically robust, straightforward, readily implementable, and widely adoptable N2O emissions reduction offsets methodology that can be used by farmers to cre...
Example States and State Governments

NY’s Landfill Gas Funding Program

New York provides funding to municipally owned or operated landfills installing gas management systems designed to capture gas created within, and emitted from, the landfill. Funding awards are made a...
Example Private Entities

George Washington University Climate Action Plan

As part of its Climate Action Plan, GWU pledged that, as refrigeration and air-conditioning systems in all of its facilities are replaced over time, all new systems must use refrigerants with lower gl...
Resource Congress

The Inflation Reduction Act

New: The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Environmental Defense Fund are announcing the launch of an additional resource on the Inflation Reduction Act Tracker website: the IRA litigation case ...
Example States and State Governments

NY’s Proposed SNAP Regulation

New York’s Proposed 6 NYCRR Part 494, Hydrofluorocarbon Standards and Reporting, would adopt prohibitions on certain HFC substances in certain end-uses as previously included in the SNAP program.
Example Executive Branch

EPA’s AgStar Program

AgStar is a voluntary program coordinated by EPA, in cooperation with USDA, that supports farmers and industry in the development and adoption of anaerobic digester systems. AgStar provides expert con...
Resource Local Governments

EPA Compilation of Idling Laws

EPA prepared 2006 a compilation of state and local anti-idling regulations.
Example Private Entities

XTO Energy Methane Emissions Initiative

ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy recently expanded its methane emissions reduction initiative, which includes phasing out high-bleed pneumatic devices, leak detection and repair, a training program, i...
Example States and State Governments

California Oil and Gas Sector Methane Emissions Regulation

California’s methane regulations are designed to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production, processing, storage, and transmission compressor stations. The regulation requires oil and gas pr...
Example Executive Branch

Green Proving Ground Program

The Green Proving Ground Program uses the General Services Administration’s real estate portfolio to identify, test, and support the commercialization of cost-effective technologies to reduce energy a...
Example Congress

California Incentive Program for Biogas Interconnection Costs

The California PUC established an incentive program under which biogas facility owners may recover up to 50% of interconnection costs to a maximum amount of $1.5 million. The program was subsequently ...
Example States and State Governments

Colorado Pipeline Leaks Regulations

Colorado requires producers to inspect facilities for leaks (using audio, visual, or olfactory methods) every month, and undertake more comprehensive leak survey (using equipment to detect gas in the ...
Example Executive Branch

GreenChill Partnership

EPA’s GreenChill Partnership with food retailers, technology manufacturers, and chemical manufacturers works to reduce refrigerant emissions and transition to environmentally safe refrigerants.
Example States and State Governments

California Unattended Idling Prohibition

California Vehicle Code ch. 9 §22515 prohibits unattended vehicle idling.
Resource Congress

CAA §110 Authorising SIP In-Use Requirements

The Clean Air Act authorizes state implementation plans to include indirect source regulations, as well as provisions designed to reduce emissions from mobile source use. In-use regulations include ca...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Analysis: Incorporation of Climate Action Reserve Nitrogen Management Project Protocol 2.0 into State Law and Policy

Emissions of nitrous oxide are a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution in the United States, amounting to approximately 5 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions on an annual basis. Agricul...
Example States and State Governments

California School Bus Idling Law

California has adopted a regulation prohibiting school buses from idling while stopped at schools, or from starting more than 30 seconds before departure.
Example Executive Branch

EPA’s SmartWay program

EPA’s voluntary SmartWay program is a partnership between the Agency, shippers, freight carriers, and freight logistics companies to benchmark and track CO2 emissions and disseminate information on fu...
Example States and State Governments

California Rules for Gas Capture at Municipal Solid Waste Facilities

California’s AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, requires gas capture at any municipal solid waste landfill that accepted waste after 1976, holds 450,000 tons or more of waste, has heat input cap...
Example States and State Governments

California’s Moyer Program

California has used the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program to provide funding support for diesel engine retrofits and replacement. The program administers funds to help owner...
Example Local Governments

Sacramento Idling Prohibition

The city of Sacramento has an idling prohibition specifically targeting vehicles left unattended.
Example States and State Governments

Kentucky Coal Seam Methane Regulation

Kentucky has enacted general legislation prohibiting the waste of coal seam methane, including its “unnecessary or excessive loss” through venting or flaring. It includes an exception for active coal ...
Example Congress

Title VI of the Clean Air Act and NRER Program

Title VI of the Clean Air Act represents the primary regulatory authority to control HFCs, which includes the commitments in the Montreal Protocol. Title VI requires EPA to develop programs that prote...
Example States and State Governments

New York Methane Reduction Plan

New York’s Methane Reduction Plan is the workproduct of five different state agencies working to develop proposals and policies to inventory emissions and identify strategies for methane capture and e...
Example Congress

Pipeline Safety Act

The federal Pipeline Safety Act gives the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration broad authority to adopt regulations, prescribing minimum standards for the construction, operation, an...
Example States and State Governments

Wyoming Regulation of Oil and Gas Sector Methane Emissions

Wyoming updated its standards in 2019 to require oil and gas companies to check new facilities regularly for emissions of smog and methane.
Example Executive Branch

New Stationary Sources Standards

Different sections of the Clean Air Act authorize EPA to regulate particulate matter emissions from new stationary sources, including new source performance standards, prevention of significant deteri...
Example Executive Branch

EPA and NHTSA’s CAFE Standards GHG Credits Program

EPA and the NHTSA’s CAFE Standards GHG Credits Program encourages automobile manufacturers and importers to replace HFC-134a in mobile A/Cs. The program’s 2012 standards provide credits to manufacture...
Example States and State Governments

California Mobile Cargo Handling Requirement

California has provided a model for regulating in-use emissions from ports, through its regulation governing mobile cargo handling equipment at ports and intermodal railyards. The original regulation ...
Example States and State Governments

Arizona Truck Idling Regulation

Arizona state law requires that counties adopt, implement and enforce ordinances that place limits on the maximum idling time of heavy-duty, long-range trucks.
Example States and State Governments

New Hampshire Fertilizer Rules

New Hampshire sets nitrogen concentration limits for different types of fertilizer.
Example States and State Governments

Texas Emissions Reduction Plan programs

The Texas Emissions Reduction Plan comprises eleven different funding programs. The Texas Clean Fleet Program, e.g., provides grants to help diesel equipment owners retrofit older equipment, funded ou...
Example States and State Governments

Kansas rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Kansas is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Kansas requires Grade 3 leaks to be repaired within 30 month...
Resource Executive Branch

Report, Managing a Forgotten Gas Under Existing US Law: An Interdisciplinary Analysis

Kanter et al.’s 2017 report studies regulatory options to control nitrous oxide and explores the environmental and economic impacts of enacting them. It determines that the Clean Air Act is the most p...
Example Executive Branch

Clean Air Act §111

CAA §111 establishes a framework for regulating air pollution from stationary sources such as power plants and industrial facilities. EPA has not yet promulgated any new source performance standards o...
Example States and State Governments

Connecticut Clean Diesel Plan Funding

The Clean Diesel Grant Program funds a number of programs in the state, including the Clean School Bus program.
Resource Executive Branch

Executive Order 14008

EO 14088, one of the first Executive Orders signed during the Biden Administration, has been hailed as “a mini Green New Deal” in effect. It has several disparate provisions aimed at climate and clima...
Example Foreign

Alberta’s Cap and Trade Program

Alberta’s Cap and Trade Program allows offset credits for reductions of nitrous oxide and other GHGs from agricultural sources, and has developed an offset protocol for estimating nitrous oxide reduct...
Example States and State Governments

California’s ZEV Regulation and Other Participating States

California’s ZEV regulation requires automobile companies to produce a certain percentage of ZEVs for sale in California, such as hydrogen fuel cell, batter electric, and hybrid vehicles. The ZEV mand...
Example Executive Branch

Clean Air Act Title VI

CAA §615 provides the EPA Administrator authority to promulgate regulations controlling any substance anticipated to affect the stratosphere to the detriment of public health and welfare. This authori...
Resource Congress

Report, Improving Regulation of Gas Pipeline Leaks

Webb’s 2015 report, Safety First, Environment Last: Improving Regulation of Gas Pipeline Leaks, analyzes the current state and federal regulations with respect to leak detection, repair, and reporting...
Example Foreign

New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme Agricultural Reporting Requirement

The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme requires agricultural sources to report emissions, although it has not yet established any cap on emissions from these sources. The government is in a consulta...
Resource Executive Branch

Stationary Existing Source Standards

EPA has two statutory regimes under which to regulate particulate matter and black carbon, national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAPs) and §111(d) existing source standards. NE...
Example Executive Branch

CAA §202(a)(1) – On-road Vehicle Sources

Clean Air Act §202(a)(1) gives EPA authority to establish emissions standards for “any air pollutant from any class or classes of new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines.” This authority exten...
Example States and State Governments

New Mexico Methane Venting and Flaring Rules

In March 2020, New Mexico banned routine venting and flaring of methane from oil and gas production facilities. The first phase of implementation will include data collection and reporting to identify...
Resource Congress

Congressional Research Service report, Federal Crop Insurance Background

The Congressional Research Services 2015 report on the Federal Crop Insurance program outlines the program’s history, types of insurance, costs, and recent changes.
Example States and State Governments

Missouri rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Maine is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Missouri requires that pipeline operators repair Grade 3 leak...
Example States and State Governments

Maryland Proposed Methane Leak Regulations

In August 2020, The Maryland Dept. of Environment proposed regulations to reduce methane emissions from energy infrastructure and operations. The proposed regulation will establish requirements to red...
Resource Congress

Proposed Methane Emissions Mitigation Act

2015’s proposed Methane Emissions Mitigation Act was aimed at supporting the development of new technologies to address natural gas pipeline leaks, providing $225 million for research on leak control ...
Resource Congress

Report, Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Management in the Oil and Gas Sector

Report, Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Management in the Oil and Gas Sector. The UN Economic Commission for Europe and the Global Methane Initiative published a 2019 report offering guid...
Example States and State Governments

Delaware State Nutrient Management Law

The Delaware State Nutrient Management Law requires farmers prepare nutrient management plans, which must limit nitrogen application to the expected yield of the specific crop.
Resource Executive Branch

Potential Improvements to Clean Water Act NPDES Program

The Clean Water Act establishes a national pollution discharge elimination system to regulate operations that discharge pollutants directly into waters. Agricultural operations, including CAFOs, are c...
Example States and State Governments

California’s Automotive Refrigerant Rules

California adopted regulations in 2009 to reduce emissions from DIY mobile A/C units in cars and pickup trucks, and also included a deposit and recycling program to ensure proper disposal of used refr...
Example States and State Governments

California Emissions Trading Scheme

California’s cap-and-trade program covers nitrous oxide emissions from power plants, nitric acid facilities, and transportation fuels. If these facilities generation 25,000 tons of CO2-e or more per y...
Example Congress

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act programs

DERA provides federal funding in the form of grants to eligible entities for projects that reduce emissions from existing diesel engines. The programs provide funding for applicants nationally, at the...
Example Executive Branch

Residential Standards

EPA may regulate black carbon from residential sources through new source performance standards for residential heating stoves, education, or incentivizing the replacement of inefficient stoves. EPA p...
Resource Foreign

UNEP Report, Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis Report

UNEP’s 2020 report highlights how reductions of between 210 and 460 billion tons of CO2 equivalent emissions can be delivered over the next four decades through actions to improve the cooling industry...
Model Law Executive Branch

LPDD Model Regulation: Controlling N2O Emissions from Large Commercial Farms

This model regulation is designed to control emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) from large commercial crop farms to reduce impacts of N2O pollution to the stratospheric ozone layer. The regulation estab...
Example Executive Branch

Rural Energy for America Program

The REAP program provides grants up to $500,000 and loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy systems. While REAP funding is available for renewable gas systems, numerous r...
Example Executive Branch

EPA’s Emissions Reduction and Reclamation Program

In September, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule to establish the Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) Program, which will help to better manage, recycle, and ...
Example Executive Branch

Good Farming Practice Determination Standards Handbook

The 2016 Good Farming Practice Determination Standards Handbook, for the first time, stated that practices promoted by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service would generally be recognized a...
Example Executive Branch

Clean Air Act §202

CAA §202(a) allows EPA to prescribe standards for air pollutants from mobile sources that may cause or contribute to air pollution that endangers public health or welfare. EPA has used this authority ...
Example States and State Governments

Colorado Regulations on Oil and Gas Sector Methane Emissions

Colorado first adopted methane emissions regulations for the oil and gas sector in 2014. Colorado’s regulations require oil and gas companies to find and fix methane leaks, and, where necessary, insta...
Example States and State Governments

Florida rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Florida is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Florida requires above-ground, Grade 3 leaks be repaired wi...
Resource Congress

EPA Black Carbon Report

EPA’s 2011 Black Carbon Report to Congress represents an intensive effort to compile, assess, and summarize available scientific information on the current and future impacts of black carbon, and to e...
Example States and State Governments

Maryland’s Proposed SNAP Regulation

In July 2020, the Maryland Department of the Environment proposed regulations to phase out the use of certain HFCs in foam products, refrigeration, commercial air-conditioning, and aerosol propellants...
Example Congress

HFC Cuts in COVID Relief Bill (2020) — Including Responsive EPA Proposals

In December 2020, Congress passed COVID relief legislation which included specific HFC measures. The legislation includes measures to direct spending to boost renewable energy and limit the use of HFC...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: Healthy Soils Bill for Establishing State N20 Management Standards

Nitrous oxide emissions are a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution in the United States, amounting to approximately 5 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions on an annual basis. One source...
Example States and State Governments

North Dakota Regulation of Oil and Gas Sector Methane Emissions

North Dakota bans the venting of natural gas and requires that vented gas be burned through a flare with the estimated volume flared reported to the director of the oil and gas division at the North D...
Resource Congress

CRS Report, Nitrous Oxide from Agricultural Sources: Potential Role in Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Ozone Recovery

This 2010 Congressional Research Service report considers whether nitrous oxide emissions should be subject to direct regulation, what role EPA should play using its existing Clean Air Act authority, ...
Example States and State Governments

California Truck and Bus Regulation

California has a truck and bus regulation under its Clean Air Act waiver, which includes emission standards for new engines and vehicles, as well as in engine retrofit requirement aimed to ensure that...
Resource Executive Branch

CAA §213 – Nonroad Vehicle Sources

Clean Air Act §213 grants EPA the power to regulate nonroad vehicle sources, which includes any type of mobile source that was not designed primarily for highway travel. EPA must regulate emissions of...
Example Executive Branch

EPA 2023 Proposed Soot Exposure Regulation

In January 2023, EPA proposed a reduction of the allowable annual exposure to industrial soot pollution, and will solicit public comment before making a final decision in 2023. EPA’s proposal would lo...
Example States and State Governments

New York’s Leaked Gas Cost Recovery Methodology

In New York, gas rate recovery is not linked to actual leakage each year, but rather fixed every three years to reflect historical averages. This gives pipeline operators some incentive to continuousl...
Resource Executive Branch

Report, Turning down the Heat: How the EPA Can Fight Climate Change by Cutting Landfill Emissions

Industrious Labs’ October 2024 report, Turning Down the Heat, estimated the emissions reductions that would occur if the United States put in place more aggressive policies to capture methane emitted ...
Example States and State Governments

California In-Use Emissions Testing Requirements

California passed a heavy-duty vehicle inspection program in 2014 that requires trucks to comply with a random roadside in-use emissions testing program to verify that diesel engines do not smoke exce...
Example States and State Governments

California SB 1122

California’s SB 1122 requires the state’s investor-owned utilities to procure at least 90 MW of electricity generated at agricultural biogas facilities developed on or after June 2013. Utilities are r...
Example States and State Governments

Maine rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Maine is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Maine requires that pipeline operators repair Grade 3 leaks w...
Example States and State Governments

California TRAC Leases

California’s Terminal Rental Adjustment Clause Leases, or TRAC leases, encourage business owners to upgrade their diesel trucks for early compliance with on-road diesel vehicle regulations. The progra...
Example States and State Governments

New Jersey Fertilizer Rules

New Jersey prohibits the sale of fertilizer that exceeds certain limits for nitrogen concentration.
Resource Executive Branch

EPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program

EPA’s Coalbed Methane Outreach Program works cooperatively with coal companies to reduce methane emissions through recovery and utilization programs. CMOP provides mine-specific information and techni...
Resource Executive Branch

EPA Technical Reports on Methane Emissions Reduction from Oil and Gas Sector

In 2014, EPA released five technical reports outlining strategies to reduce methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector. They included volumes on compressors, fracking wells, leaks, liquids ...
Example Executive Branch

California’s Sulfur Hexafluoride Regulations

California’s SF6 reduction program applies to all retailers and users of SF6 except for those using it for electric utility or semiconductor manufacture.
Example Executive Branch

Federal Acquisitions Regulation HFC policy

The Federal Acquisitions Regulation governs the acquisitions process for federal agencies and contractors. In 2016, a final rule amended FAR to require procurement of alternatives to high global warmi...
Example States and State Governments

California’s AB-32 and CARB’s Responsive Scoping Plan

California’s AB 32 requires a reduction in statewide GHG emissions, including HFCs, to 1990 levels, by 2020 (this target was strengthened by SB 1383 in 2016 to a 40% reduction in GHGs below 1990 level...
Example Congress

The Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment

The Montreal Protocol (1988) legally mandates the phaseout of the production and use of controlled ozone-depleting substances, setting phaseout obligations on a strictly enforced schedule. Parties mus...
Resource Congress

Report, Climate Change and Federal Crop Insurance

Marzan and Ballard’s 2016 report examines the present risk of climate change in agriculture and discusses recent steps taken to address climate change in agriculture in general, specifically within th...
Example Foreign

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

The EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme imposes nitrous oxide limits on the production of nitric, adipic, glyoxal, and glyoxylic acids.
Resource Executive Branch

BLM’s Proposed Methane Rules from Oil and Gas Sites

In November 2022, the Bureau of Land Management released draft rules to stem the release of methane from oil and gas drilling on public lands. The proposed rules would mandate that operators maintain ...
Resource Executive Branch

Report, Climate Reregulation in a Biden Administration

This August 2020 report from the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law charts a course for executive action that, under a new presidential administration, would reverse the deregulatory agenda of the Tr...
Example States and State Governments

CARB Diesel Risk Reduction Plan

California’s Diesel Risk Reduction Plan includes recommended actions to reduce emissions from mobile and stationary sources. Under the plan, California has enacted on-road and nonroad emissions standa...
Resource Executive Branch

EPA Report, Improvements Needed in EPA Efforts to Address Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Distribution Pipelines

EPA’s 2014 report focusing on its own regulatory power over pipeline leaks recommends that the EPA work with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, develop a strategy to address t...
Example Private Entities

Consumers Energy Methane Reduction Plan

Consumers Energy, in Michigan, created a voluntary methane reduction plan in 2019, which aims to reduce the company’s methane emissions 80% by accelerating the replacement of aging pipe, rehabilitatin...
Model Law Congress

LPDD Model Law: Reducing Black Carbon in Arctic Shipping

As new shipping lanes emerge in the Arctic, the potential harms attributable to black carbon emissions — which coats the surrounding ice surface black and accordingly increases the rate of heat absorp...
Example Private Entities

The Environmental Partnership

API’s voluntary methane reduction program comprised of companies in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry committed to reducing methane emissions from their operations.
Example Executive Branch

LIHEAP

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, among other financial assistance, funds woodstove replacement for low-income households.
Resource Executive Branch

Report, Domestic Mitigation of Black Carbon from Diesel Emissions

Chang’s 2011 report examines how black carbon emissions are controlled under the CAA and what EPA, states, and municipalities can do to mitigate black carbon emissions further.
Example States and State Governments

Southern California Boiler and Water Heater Regulation

In Southern California, a rule adopted in June 2024 targets industrial boilers and water heaters fueled by fossil gas, driving a major shift toward electric boilers and heaters. Regulators in the Sout...
Example States and State Governments

Connecticut Bus Idling Regulation

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227 prohibits the idling of a school bus for more than three consecutive minutes.
Example States and State Governments

Minnesota Vegetative Buffer Requirements

In 2015, Minnesota passed a pioneering law requiring permanent vegetative buffers on farmland abutting lakes and streams. The law was designed to reduce runoff, but will also increase soil carbon sequ...
Resource Congress

Proposed CLEAN Future Act (2020)

The proposed Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act (2020) is a large, economy-wide climate bill released by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Among ...
Resource Congress

Proposed METHANE Act

2019’s proposed Methane Emissions from Transmission Harm American Neighborhoods and the Environment (METHANE) Act would require owners and operators of pipelines and pipeline facilities to use the bes...
Example Executive Branch

Obama-Era Methane Rules

The Obama Administration promulgated methane rules that the Trump Administration has sought to roll back. Those rules, Standards of Performance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and Emissions Guidel...
Example States and State Governments

Arizona rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Arizona is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Arizona requires that pipeline operators repair underground...
Resource Executive Branch

EPA’s Good Neighbor Rule

In March 2023, EPA finalized it’s “Good Neighbor” Rule, under which power plant owners in 22 states will face tighter nitrogen oxides emissions requirements. Power plants without NOx emissions reducti...
Resource Foreign

UNEP Report, Drawing Down Nitrous Oxide to Protect the Ozone Layer

UNEP’s 2013 report describes the main mechanisms leading to nitrous oxide emissions and presents options for reducing emissions. It provides estimates of the emission reduction potential from various ...
Resource States and State Governments

US Climate Alliance Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Challenge

The U.S. Climate Alliance, composed of 24 states representing 55% of the U.S. population and 60% of U.S. GDP, has committed to reducing short-lived climate pollutants, including HFC. The Alliance plan...
Example States and State Governments

California’s Refrigerant Management Program

California’s Refrigerant Management Program requires any owner-operator of a facility with stationary, nonresidential refrigeration systems using more than 50 pounds of high global warming potential r...
Example Executive Branch

FERC’s Cost Recovery Mechanism for Modernization of Natural Gas Pipelines

FERC’s 2015 rule allowed pipeline operators to recover repair and replacement costs annually, rather than waiting for the next rate case. This addressed an incentive problem in pipeline maintenance, w...
Example States and State Governments

Colorado Order on Nitrous Oxide Management

In March 2023, Colorado’s governor promulgated an executive order requiring state agencies to develop regulations for cutting emissions of nitrogen oxides by 30 percent by the 2025 summertime ozone se...
Example States and State Governments

Washington’s SNAP Regulation

Washington’s HB 1112 adopts as state law the content of EPA’s SNAP Rules 20 and 21.
Resource Congress

Proposed Super Pollutants Act (2019)

This proposed 2019 legislation would reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) in the atmosphere by enabling federal agencies to set up a taskforce with businesses and non-profits to speed the ado...
Example Executive Branch

EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program

LMOP is a voluntary program that works cooperatively with industry stakeholders and waste officials to reduce or avoid methane emissions from landfills. LMOP encourages the recovery and beneficial use...
Example States and State Governments

Colorado HB 1238 (2021)

The bill updates the methods used to determine the cost-effectiveness of demand-side management (DSM) programs of public utilities selling natural gas at retail, including requiring that the calculati...
Example States and State Governments

California Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Strategy

The California State Legislature passed a law in 2014, codified at at Cal. Heath and Safety Code §39730.5, directing the California Air Resources Board to develop a comprehensive strategy to reduce sh...
Example States and State Governments

Vermont’s SNAP Regulation

Vermont’s S30 stipulates that products containing certain HFCs prohibited by the EPA in SNAP Rules 20 and 21 would not be allowed in Vermont in new equipment for specific applications as of specific d...
Resource Executive Branch

White House Climate Action Plan: Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions

The Obama Administration’s 2014 plan proposed to cut methane emissions from landfills, coal mining, and agriculture, and oil and gas systems through voluntary actions and standards.
Example States and State Governments

Texas rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Texas is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Texas requires pipeline operators to repair Grade 3 leaks wit...
Example Executive Branch

EPA’s Regulation for Oil and Gas Sector Methane Emissions

In December, 2023, EPA issued a final rule to reduce emissions of methane and other harmful air pollution from oil and natural gas operations — including, for the first time, from existing sources nat...
Example States and State Governments

Colorado SB 181

Colorado’s SB 181 (2019) requires that the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission revisit its existing rules and consider stricter requirements with respect to leak detection and repair, pipeline inspect...
Resource Executive Branch

NRDC Report, US States Take the Lead in HFC Phasedown

NRDC’s 2019 report summarizes federal efforts to phase out HFCs, their shortcomings, and state efforts to fill the gap.
Example States and State Governments

California Dairy Digester Research and Development Program

The Dairy Digester Research and Development Program provides financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In its 2...
Example States and State Governments

Ohio’s Fugitive Emissions Regulations

Ohio’s fugitive emissions regulations require operators to test and monitor for any fugitive emissions taking place at a well site on a quarterly basis, develop a leak detection and repair program, an...
Example Executive Branch

Clean Air Act §115

Clean Air Act §115 allows EPA to regulate any air pollutant on which there have been studies from an duly constituted international agency; for which US emissions endanger public health or welfare in ...
Example Executive Branch

Responsible Appliance Disposal Program

The RAD Program is a voluntary program to recover emissions from appliance foams. EPA provides technical expertise to its partner utility companies, retailers, and manufacturers to help ensure that be...
Example Executive Branch

SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems

EPA’s SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership works with utilities to voluntarily commit to reduce sulfur hexafluoride emissions. The Partnership published a 2018 report detailing technical lessons learned...
Example States and State Governments

California’s SNAP Regulation

California SNAP is comprised of a regulation by CARB and Senate Bill 1013, also known as the California Cooling Act. Both the CARB HFC Regulation and SB 1013 took effect January 1, 2019. These policie...
Example Local Governments

NYC Idling Law

The New York City Administrative Code, Title 24, Section 24-163 establishes that no person should allow the engine of a motor vehicle to idle for longer than three minutes while parking, standing, or ...
Example States and State Governments

California Off-Road Mobile Source Regulations

California has promulgated regulations for a variety of nonroad sources, including tractors, excavators, dozers, portable generators, and sweepers are required to meet emission standards. These repres...