Iowa Establishes Climate Advisory Council, GHG Emissions Registry

On April 27, 2007, Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed SF 485, establishing a Climate Change Advisory Council that will be composed of a range of Governor-appointed stakeholders, as well as members of the legislature. The council is charged with developing a range of scenarios for reductions of statewide greenhouse gas emissions, including the possibility of cutting emissions 50 percent by 2050, and recommending the best strategies for statewide emissions reductions. The council will submit its recommendations to the governor and the general assembly by January 1, 2008. SF 485 also creates a voluntary greenhouse gas registry to aid with the tracking and crediting of entities in the state that reduce their GHG emissions or that implement energy efficiency measures. The bill also requires the state to consider GHG emissions in reviewing proposals for new power plants.

SF 485
Press Release
Map of States with Climate Change Commissions