5. Phase 2 Schedule
The assigned Commissioner or Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) should schedule a prehearing conference as soon as practicable to address the scope and procedures for consideration in Phase 2 of GHG emission issues related to the natural gas sector consistent with this order. The schedule for consideration of these issues will be discussed at the prehearing conference.
The Phase 2 Scoping Memo established a schedule for consideration in Phase 2 of GHG emission issues related to the electricity sector, which will permit development of timely recommendations for CARB's consideration as it implements AB 32. A similar schedule is likely to be appropriate for our consideration of natural gas issues in Phase 2.
The schedule in the Phase 2 Scoping Memo established four key dates:
· September 2007: an Assigned Commissioner's Ruling with recommendations to CARB regarding electricity sector reporting;
· October 2007: an Assigned Commissioner's Ruling with recommendations to CARB regarding the 1990 electricity GHG baseline;
· January 2008: Issuance of a staff report, as a basis for further workshops, comments, additional modeling, and hearings if needed.
· September 2008: A Commission decision which will include recommendations about a load-based GHG emission cap for the electricity sector.
Consistent with these four milestones, a preliminary schedule for development of guidelines regarding GHG emissions policies for the natural gas sector follows:
Ruling scheduling prehearing conference and providing for the filing of prehearing conference statements on natural gas issues |
June 2007 |
Prehearing conference on natural gas issues |
June 2007 |
Additional Phase 2 scoping memo to address natural gas sector |
July 2007 |
Assigned Commissioner's Ruling with natural gas reporting recommendations to CARB |
September 2007 |
Assigned Commissioner's Ruling with recommendations to CARB for 1990 GHG baseline for the natural gas sector |
October 2007 |
Staff Report |
January 2008 |
Commission Decision |
September 2008 |
The additional scoping memo addressing natural gas issues may modify the preliminary schedule set forth above and may include further details as determined by the assigned Commissioner.
It is the Commission's intention to complete this rulemaking within 24 months of the date of the Assigned Commissioner's scoping memo to be issued regarding natural gas issues in Phase 2, rather than the 18 months specified in § 1701.5. In using the authority granted by § 1701(b) to set a time longer than 18 months for this proceeding, we consider that the scope of Phase 2 encompasses numerous complex and unique tasks and requires extensive consultations and coordination with the CEC, CARB, and other entities.
