Global Climate Change

In January 2007, the PNUCC Board of Directors commissioned an effort to explore potential global climate change legislation that would impact Northwest utilities and industries.  Led by board member Scott Brattebo, an ad hoc work group will focus on potential legislation - not on the science aspects of climate change.  The scope will include potential national legislation as well as activity in the Northwest states and California.  The initial phase will be informational in nature, with the goal of providing credible information on these proposals to utility and industry managers.  The group will:

1. Review current proposals for federal legislation
2. Provide a summary of key elements of proposals
3. Identify supporters and political alliances of each proposal
4. Articulate the intended goals of each proposal
5. Compare and contrast major elements
6. Identify areas of concerns
7. Assess the potential impact to Northwest utilities and their customers
8. Identify areas of potential common interest

In parallel with the review and assessment phase, the group will develop a policy paper that expresses a consensus point of view on the major aspects of this issue.

It is expected that this work will be accomplished by utility/industry staff.  Monthly updates will be provided to the PNUCC Board with a Principles Paper published in March.  In July, the group will present a Progress Report that includes:

- a summary of each major proposal

- a description of each key element

- a bibliography

- A glossary of relevant terms