TECH ENVIRONMENTAL PRESS RELEASES

2011-01-10: What You Need To Know About Greenhouse Gas Reporting in 2011

A new year brings new challenges, new goals, and new greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting requirements!

Reporting for Massachusetts Facilities Expands to Include Additional Pollutants

MassDEP first required GHG information as part of year-2009 emissions reports due in early 2010; that round of reporting included CO2 emissions from stationary sources and on-road mobile sources. Year-2010 requirements (for reports due April 15, 2011) will be expanded to include off-road mobile sources and additional GHGs. In addition to CO2, emissions of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) must also be reported.  These emission estimates will require more accurate fuel usage, mileage, and vehicle information from facilities.  Emission will be reported as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).  CO2e is a metric measure used to compare the emissions of various GHGs based upon global warming potential (GWP). 

EPA Electronic GHG Emissions Reporting Registration has Begun

Starting in 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mandating the reporting of year-2010 GHG emissions from large emission sources (i.e. greater than 25,000 metric tons of CO2e) across a range of industry sectors. This data must be submitted via the new web-based Electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (e-GGRT). Prior to reporting any emissions data, all affected sources must first register their facilities in e-GGRT, regardless of whether those facilities are already reporting under Part 75. The deadline for registration is January 30, 2011. The deadline for reporting emissions data to EPA is March 31, 2011. 

MassDEP GHG Reporting Program Now Requires 3rd Party Verification

The MassDEP GHG reporting program requires that facility GHG emissions be verified by a third party beginning with year-2010 reporting due in 2011. A staggered implementation schedule has been developed for facilities subject to the GHG reporting requirements.  The verification deadline for facilities that reported more than 25,000 short tons CO2 in year-2010 is December 31st, 2011.  Facilities who report more than 10,000 short tons CO2e in year-2011 are required to first verify emissions by December 31st, 2012.  All remaining facilities must verify emissions by December 31st, 2013.  All facilities are required to verify emissions reports once every three years.

Massachusetts Releases Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has released the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020, setting the statewide GHG emissions limit for the next decade.  This report was mandated as part of the Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), and is intended to detail how the State will comply with a 25 percent reduction in GHG emissions below 1990 levels. The GWSA mandates an 80 percent reduction by 2050.  The report outlines targets for emission reductions in specific business sectors via various policies.  The most significant of the reductions is to be accomplished by means of energy efficiency in buildings. 

2009 GHG Reports for Massachusetts Facilities Now Available to Public

Massachusetts facility GHG emissions reports for year-2009 are now available to the public via the Climate Registry Information System (CRIS).  In 2010, MassDEP GHG regulation required the first on-line reporting of GHG emissions from subject facilities.  In addition to reporting CO2 emissions from stationary sources, emissions from on-road mobile sources (owned or leased by the facility) were also reported.  MassDEP has also released the Preliminary 2006-08 Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.  This is the first GHG inventory developed under the GWSA, which requires MassDEP to publish inventories every three years.

Tech Environmental Greenhouse Gas Services

Tech Environmental has been calculating air emissions for 25 years: we have kept many clients in compliance with all applicable regulations, and we have worked closely with MassDEP. Our President provided oversight during the development of Mass. GHG regulations, and we've worked with many clients to report GHG emissions and mitigate GHG impacts. Tech can help you with the new regulations by preparing GHG report submittals or assisting with recordkeeping preparation.

Tech's greenhouse gas clients include:
Wellesley College
Green Mountain Power
Massport
Aggregate Industries
Southbridge Power & Thermal
Click on the links to learn more about our work on each project.

For more information, contact Dr. Dana Buske at dbuske@techenv.com.

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