Connecticut General Statutes Title 22A. Environmental Protection § 22a-200d. State action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Assessment of low-carbon fuel standards, transportation system, cap and trade programs

(1) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall monitor the development of low-carbon fuel standards in other states or jurisdictions, evaluate the potential of any such standard to achieve net carbon reductions, and assess whether the analytical framework used to determine the carbon benefit measures the full lifecycle of greenhouse gas emissions, including direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gas caused by changes in land use or other factors. Such assessment shall include, but not be limited to, the modeling tools developed by the California Air Resources Board and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The analytical framework used to measure actual lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for fuel shall include all stages of fuel and feedstock production, delivery and use of the finished fuel to the ultimate consumer, and shall adjust the mass values for all greenhouse gas emissions relative to such emissions' relative global warming potential.

(2) The Department of Transportation shall, within available appropriations, continue to investigate the potential for improvements to the state's transportation system that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and coordinate with the northeastern states on regional strategies to incorporate greenhouse gas emission reductions into regional transportation planning, including, but not limited to, high speed rail, light-rail passenger service and freight rail service within the northeast region.

(3) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection may work with interested states and Canadian provinces to develop and implement market-based compliance mechanisms to achieve the greenhouse gas levels and limits established by section 22a-200a, including, but not limited to, cap and trade programs.