Bill > S1602

Introduced Session

This bill would amend the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)," P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.), and the "Global Warming Response Act," P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et al.), to authorize the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt rules and regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, the bill would expand the authority given to the DEP to regulate air pollution in the State to also include "excess greenhouse gas emissions," which is defined by the bill to mean "Statewide greenhouse gas emissions which exceed those of the limits established in section 4 of P.L.2007, c.112 (26:2C-40) or the interim benchmarks adopted pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-41)." "Greenhouse gas" is defined by the bill to mean carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and any other gas or substance determined by the DEP to be a significant contributor to the problem of global warming. The bill would also direct the DEP to adopt rules and regulations, no later than 24 months after the bill's enactment, which incorporate greenhouse gas emissions limits into the DEP's operating permit requirements adopted pursuant to "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)," and include any other restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions deemed by the DEP to be necessary for the State to meet the requirements of the "Global Warming Response Act." In addition, the bill would require the DEP to adopt rules and regulations as necessary to meet the requirements of the "Global Warming Response Act," including, but not limited to, rules and regulations that restrict the sale and use of fossil fuel types or establish greenhouse gas emissions limits from stationary sources.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Linda Greenstein (D)*,  Bob Smith (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee (on 02/14/2022)

Official Document