Revised Program Guidelines for Voluntary Reporting

As part of the President’s Global Climate Change Initiative announced on February 14, 2002, DOE issued revised program guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program on April 17, 2006. The primary goal of this effort is to slow the growth of greenhouse gas emissions while sustaining economic growth. Under the revised program, U.S. companies will be able to submit detailed annual reports on their greenhouse gas emissions and emission reductions, and their reports will become part of the public record. The objective of improving the program is to help motivate firms to take cost-effective, voluntary actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which would, in part, aid in the achievement of the Global Climate Change Initiative’s greenhouse gas intensity goal.

The revised guidelines will enable utilities, industries, and other emitters of greenhouse gases to be credited with registered reductions. The revised guidelines include new guidance and tools for estimating emissions associated with agriculture, forestry, and other sectors of the economy, and for calculating reductions from geologic sequestration, energy efficiency programs, and other efforts. Although the revised guidelines are directed primarily at large emitters of greenhouse gases, such as electricity generators and major industries, special provisions also encourage participation by farmers and small businesses.

This Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program is part of the Administration’s efforts to accelerate reductions in U.S. greenhouse gas intensity while developing the advanced technologies needed to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, without impairing economic growth. The revised program guidelines were developed through an extensive interagency and multi-year public review process that included workshops, meetings, and other opportunities to provide DOE with oral and written comment. The revisions take into account new and emerging science and are the first revisions since the original guidelines were established in 1994. The revised guidelines became effective on June 1, 2006.

In response to the revised program guidelines, EIA prepared and made available for public review on July 27, 2006, draft reporting forms and instructions to implement the revised guidelines. The 60-day public comment period for that public review ended on September 25, 2006. After addressing the comments received from stakeholders, EIA submitted the draft reporting form and instructions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The OMB released the draft form and instructions for a 30-day public comment period on November 9, 2006. EIA expects to address the comments received and finalize the new Form EIA-1605 and instructions in January 2007. EIA is currently developing a new Internet-based electronic reporting form for the revised program, which is expected to be available for reporting in September 2007.

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