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Western Climate Initiative Recommends ASTM D6866

In the third draft of its essential requirements of mandatory reporting, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) has identified ASTM D6866 as the standard method for measuring biogenic CO2 emissions from general stationary fuel combustion sources.

According to the WCI document, operators of plants that combust fuels or mixed fuels that contain biomass shall determine the biomass-derived fraction of their CO2 emissions using ASTM D6866.

Plant operators are obligated to conduct ASTM D6866 analysis at least every three months. Gas samples are to be collected during normal operating conditions for at least more than 24 hours.

Plant operators that use fuels with less than 5% biomass by weight or those that use refuse-derived fuels that are less than 30% biomass by weight on an annual basis are not required to determine their biogenic CO2 emissions via ASTM D6866.

The Background Document and Progress Report for Essential Requirements of Mandatory Reporting (third draft) was published in January 2009 with updates to be released later this year. According to the WCI’s Work Plan for 2009-2010, the following updates are expected:

June 2009 – Changes in reporting essential requirements, based on comments received from stakeholders in the first quarter of 2009

July 2009 – Documentation of reporting essential requirements pertaining to oil and gas exploration and gas processing POR, and GHG emissions quantification and monitoring method

December 2009 – (1) Documentation of reporting essential requirements pertaining to natural gas transmission and distribution, (2) Development of GHG emission factors and quantification methods

June 2010 – (1) Documentation of reporting essential requirements pertaining to transportation and RCI fuels, (2) Defining acceptable level of accuracy of quantification and monitoring methods.

Western Climate Initiative

Launched in February 2007, the WCI is composed of seven states in the U.S. and four Canadian provinces that aim to identify, evaluate, and implement ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the region, focusing on a market-based cap-and-trade system. The WCI partners are Arizona, British Columbia, California, Manitoba, Montana, New Mexico, Ontario, Oregon, Quebec, Utah, and Washington.

Related posts:

1. WCI Recommends ASTM D6866 Testing for Mixed Fuels Emissions
2. WCI: Use ASTM D6866 to Determine Biomass Fuel Portion of CO2 Emissions
3. Ontario GHG Regulation Identifies ASTM D6866 as Emissions Quantification Method
4. Beta Public Comment: WCI Essential Requirements of Mandatory Reporting