Gov. Rendell is not likely to announce a climate change strategy proposal for Pennsylvania until after state budget issues are resolved and perhaps not until September, according to an update given to DCNR’s Carbon Management Plan Work Group this week.

Gov. Rendell has said in February he hoped to have a proposal completed by May, but budget issues are now apparently intruding on that timeframe.

The DCNR Group was meeting this week to continue work on a Carbon Management Plan for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that would take advantage of the state’s forests and geologic resources to provide carbon sequestration opportunities for the Commonwealth.

The Group approved recommendations for geologic management options that call for:

· Model protocols for the siting and operation of geologic sequestration sites;

· Develop better information on potential sequestration sites outside of Western PA;

· Develop a GIS system that would aid decision-making on selection and operation of sites;

· Identify networks of pipelines in Pennsylvania for their potential use to transport carbon dioxide; and

· Pursue funding and approval for geologic sequestration pilot project, in particular coal bed methane in the anthracite coal region.

Also discussed were recommendations on how to structure a greenhouse gas registry for forestry and geologic resources in Pennylvania, recommendations for landscape conservation and forestry options.

The Group is also finalizing a Greenhouse Gas Inventory for the Commonwealth as part of its work.

The announced delay in a climate change proposal from Gov. Rendell will also delay the work of DCNR’s group, since it had built in public review time for the proposals they were developing.

The DCNR discussions are being facilitated by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council with staff support from the Center for Climate Strategies.

All the draft recommendations and background reports being considered by the Group is available online at the Carbon Management Plan Work Group webpage.

Links: DCNR Carbon Sequestration Group Considers Policy Options

DCNR Carbon Management Group Reviews Policy Options

DCNR to Develop Carbon Management Plan, Update Greenhouse Gas Inventory

6/1/2007