Methane emissions: natural gas producing low methane emissions.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming in order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The act requires all state agencies to consider and implement strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This bill would additionally require state agencies to prioritize strategies to reduce methane emissions, including emissions from imported natural gas, where feasible and cost effective. The bill would require the state board, no later than December 31, 2024, to establish a certification standard for natural gas producing low methane emissions. The bill would require the state board to encourage natural gas procurement on behalf of the state to shift to certified natural gas producing low methane emissions. The bill would also require the state board, the Public Utilities Commission, and other relevant agencies to timely consider programs, or changes to existing programs, to reduce methane emissions, including emissions from imported natural gas procured by utilities and other large gas users. Existing law requires the state board to inventory sources of air pollution within the air basins of the state and determine the kinds and quantity of air pollutants. Existing law requires the state board to make available, and update at least annually, on its internet website the emissions of greenhouse gases, criteria air pollutants, and toxic air contaminants for each facility that reports to the state board and air pollution control and air quality management districts as well as the emissions of greenhouse gases, criteria air pollutants, and toxic air contaminants throughout the state broken down to a local and subcounty level for stationary sources and to at least a county level for mobile sources, as specified. Existing law also requires the state board to quantify and publish annually the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the loss or release of uncombusted natural gas to the atmosphere and emissions from natural gas flares during all processes associated with the production, processing, and transporting of natural gas imported into the state from out-of-state sources. This bill would require the state board to annually request and incorporate, as part of this quantification for annual publication, information from utilities and other large gas users regarding any contract for and use of natural gas certified to have a methane emissions intensity of less than 0.2% across the natural gas supply chain, as data are available, or the use of other best practices to minimize emissions of methane and greenhouse gases from natural gas supplying California. The bill would also require the state board to quantify and publish annually, commencing January 1, 2025, an estimate of potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions associated with the use of natural gas certified to have a methane emissions intensity of less than 0.2% across the natural gas supply chain, as data are available, or the use of other best practices applied to natural gas supplies to California.