Southern California Edison Proposes State’s First Major ‘Early Action’ Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan

Southern California Edison (SCE) today proposed to the California Air Resources Board the first major set of “early action” greenhouse gas reduction projects developed since California enacted Assembly Bill 32 — the historic climate change legislation that aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. The board is responsible for establishing the regulations and monitoring systems needed to implement the law.

SCE’s proposal is designed to support a component of AB 32 that directs the board to reward those who voluntarily undertake “early action measures” that could begin the greenhouse gas reduction process while it develops the state’s final rules, due Jan. 1, 2012.

“One of our highest objectives is to save our customers money while helping to achieve California’s greenhouse gas reduction targets,” said SCE President John Fielder. “By acting now under the voluntary provisions of AB 32, SCE can achieve greenhouse gas reductions that likely will be substantially less costly for customers than when the final rules implementing the law take effect in 2012.”

If approved, SCE’s plan could reduce the equivalent of 3.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, comparable to removing approximately 800,000 cars from California roads. The plan includes eight individual projects that would apply advanced clean technologies to a variety of emissions sources. Examples include reducing emissions from idling trucks at large truck stops and converting livestock waste to fuel. (All eight projects are described in an attachment.)

“SCE’s program calls for independent state validation, before we begin these projects, of the specific greenhouse gas reduction methods proposed plus strict results measurements after the projects are in operation,” said Michael Hertel, SCE director of environmental policy.

The utility estimates its combined early action program would cost about $23 million. SCE soon will file a related request at the California Public Utilities Commission for authority to include these greenhouse gas reduction costs in customer rates if the Air Resources Board confirms the soundness of SCE’s greenhouse gas reduction calculations in today’s filing.

Approval by regulators of the full set of SCE early action projects would represent two-tenths of 1 percent of current rates.