State and Regional Regulations Related to SF6 Emissions from Electric Transmission and Distribution
State and Regional Regulations
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a cap and invest initiative among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. RGGI targets incremental actions that are aimed towards early retirement and replacement of SF6 containing electrical equipment. RGGI also targets repair and refurbishment of SF6 containing equipment, including specific practices to reduce equipment leakage of SF6. The RGGI program also offers SF6 offset projects, which are only eligible in Connecticut. More information on the RGGI program can be found here. More information on the SF6 offset projects (currently only eligible in Connecticut) can be found here.
California
The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) regulation for Reducing Sulfur Hexafluoride Emissions from Gas Insulated Switchgear took effect in 2011 and is codified in the same subchapter as CARB’s mandatory GHG reporting and cap-and-trade regulations. The regulation applies to all owners of SF6-insulated switchgear. It imposes an annual maximum rate of SF6 emissions that is reduced by 1 percent over a ten-year period from 2011 to 2020. From 2020 onwards, the maximum emission rate is not to exceed 1 percent. CARB is also proposing regulatory amendments to phase out use of SF6 in gas-insulated equipment (GIE) starting in 2025. The phaseout schedule limits the GIE owners’ ability to acquire new SF6 GIE without an approved SF6 phaseout exemption. More information on California’s regulation can be found here.
Massachusetts
The 310 CMR 7.72 regulation aims to reduce SF6 emissions from gas-insulated switchgear. Companies and municipalities that own, lease, operate, or control gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) that contain SF6 (collectively referred by the regulation as “GIS owners”) and are located in Massachusetts are required to comply with this regulation. It imposes a maximum annual SF6 leak rate of 1 percent for GIS purchases after 2015. If the annual average leakage rate for the new GIS equipment exceeds 1 percent, the GIS owner must describe the actions that will be taken to reduce the emission rate in the future. More information about 310 CMR 7.72 can be found here.
For More Information
Track EPA Rulemakings: www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/regulations
The Partnership is providing these references for informational purposes only. It is the reader’s responsibility to determine applicability and ensure compliance with regulations.