Section 437.01. Applicability; purpose.

 

(1)   Applicability. This chapter applies to any person who wants to register emission reductions or avoided emissions of greenhouse gases or air contaminants, or carbon sequestration, if the emission reduction, emission avoidance or carbon sequestration occurs before it is required by law or results in emissions which are lower than those allowed by law.

(2)   Purpose.

(a) This chapter is adopted under ss. 227.11 (2) (a) and 285.78 , Stats., to establish a system under which the department registers emission reductions or avoided emissions of greenhouse gases or air contaminants or carbon sequestration, if the emission reduction, avoided emissions or carbon sequestration occurs before it is required by law or results in emissions which are lower than those allowed by law.

(b) The purpose of the registry is to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that efforts undertaken voluntarily by persons in Wisconsin to reduce or avoid emissions of greenhouse gases or air contaminants or to sequester carbon are publicly recognized and that these reductions are considered under future mandatory federal or state emission reduction programs.

(c) The department shall consider the information recorded in the registry under this chapter when determining baselines and reduction requirements under future emission reduction programs implemented under state authority, to the extent allowed under state law.