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1605(b) Program To Launch November 18, 2009

November 2009

The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program (“1605(b) Program”) is pleased to announce that the 1605(b) Program will launch the initial reporting cycle under the enhanced Guidelines on November 18, 2009.  In order to participate in the program there are some pre-launch activities that respondents will need to complete.

For the next several months, the 1605(b) Program will only be collecting Start Year Reports. The 1605(b) Program analysts will review and approve your Start Year Report before collecting Reporting Year Reports during the next reporting cycle in order to avoid having any potential errors carry through multiple Reporting Year Reports. 

Please read and follow the instructions below:

In order to grant access to EIA’s internet data collection system for the 1605(b) Program, we have created a Sign-Up page that allows reporters to request access to our system.  The following questions will be asked of you at Sign Up:

• Will your entity be registering reductions, reporting but not registering reductions, or both?
• Does your entity participate in Climate Leaders or Climate VISION? If so, what are your base years for those programs?
• What will be your Start Year for the 1605(b) Program?
• If you are an approved non-employee for the reporting entity, what are the entity contact’s name, email and phone number?

Once you have collected the above information please follow this link to Sign-Up to report: https://signon.eia.doe.gov/SignUp/

Instructions for Sign-Up:

1. If you already have an EIA Single Sign-On (SSO) user ID and password, enter it in on the first page.  You will then be asked additional questions to complete your enrollment for the 1605(b) survey.
2. If you do not have an EIA SSO user ID and password, select “Register for a User ID” and then proceed with the registration and enrollment process for both SSO and 1605(b).
3. Keep in mind that individual users will only go through enrollment for the 1605(b) electronic form once. Any changes after the initial enrollment would need to go through a program office approval process; please have the information listed above ready before beginning Sign-Up.

Once, you have completed the Sign-Up application, an email will be sent to the program office for approval. Once your request for access has been approved you will receive an email with the necessary links to the electronic form. We encourage all reporters to complete the Sign-Up process prior to launch in order to ensure they will be ready to report when the form is available on November 18, 2009.

Instructions for allowing multiple users for a specific entity:

1. The first user to sign up for a specific entity will be issued a unique Entity ID.
2. In order for additional users to gain access to a specific entity’s form they need to provide the Entity ID during their Sign-Up process. We will not be able to approve additional users who do not enter the correct entity ID at the time of Sign-Up.
3. If a user attempts to re-enroll an already enrolled entity he or she will not be approved.

Additional program information:

All of the four main calculation tools will be posted on the website to aid reporters in preparing emissions inventories. These tools are:

• Simplified Emissions Inventory Tool (SEIT) (completed)
• Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity (completed)
• Stationary Combustion  (expected completion by November 30, 2009)
• Mobile Sources (expected completion by November 30, 2009)

The tools listed above will be available for download at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/reporting_tools.html

(Note: Other tools will be posted as they come available and announcements will be sent to the 1605(b) email distribution list)

Program schedule deadlines:

• Internet-based system available for reporting – November 18, 2009
• Self-certified reports due – January 15, 2010
• Third-Party verified reports due – March 16, 2010
• Public use data finalized – May 2010

Thank you for participating in the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program. Please direct any questions regarding Sign-Up or the program in general to the Communications Center via toll-free hotline 1-800-803-5182 or email inbox at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov

Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity Calculation Tool has Been Posted
November 2009

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that the Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity calculation tool is now available on the “Reporting Tools” page under “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html.

The Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity tool is a spreadsheet-based tool, developed by EIA, designed to determine indirect carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Electricity Purchases based on default and source-specific emission factors.

The Program’s General Guidelines provide that reporters must report indirect emissions arising from the consumption of electricity, steam, and hot and chilled water generated by and purchased from other entities separately from direct emissions in their Emissions Inventories. This worksheet applies the methods and standards for estimating emissions from the electricity component of these energy purchases, as laid out in the Program’s Technical Guidelines, Part F.

If you have any questions concerning this calculation tool, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 1-800-803-5182.

Version 2.0 of the Simplified Emissions Inventory Tool (SEIT) has been finalized and posted
October 2009

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that version 2.0 of the Simplified Emissions Inventory Tool (SEIT) is now available on the “Reporting Tools” page under “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program homepage at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html.
 
SEIT is a spreadsheet-based tool, developed by EIA, for translating common physical indicators into a preliminary estimate of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Program’s General Guidelines, SEIT should be used for the following purposes:

• To estimate emissions for purposes of determining whether the entity is a small or large emitter;
• For estimating the quantity of emissions excluded as de minimis; and
• For developing preliminary estimates of an entity’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Please note that the preliminary estimates developed using SEIT should not be used to prepare, in whole or in part, entity-wide emission inventories required for the registration of emissions reductions (see General Guidelines, §300.2).  In the case of registering emission reductions, methods outlined in the Program’s Technical Guidelines should be employed.

Revised Launch Schedule Posted On Web Site

September 2009

Greenhouse Gases Program Comaparison Chart Updated

July 2009

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has developed a chart illuminating some of the key differences among the various greenhouse gas reporting programs, which included: The Climate Registry, California Climate Action Registry, EPA Climate Leaders, and Chicago Climate Exchange. The chart has been recently updated to include the proposed EPA Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program.

Frequently Asked Questions have been Posted
May 2009

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce that the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of the enhanced Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases or 1605(b) Program website has been posted. The FAQ pages include over 100 questions and answers pertaining to 1605(b) basics, reporting essentials, industry-specific topics, and climate science terminology.   

The FAQs are available at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/FAQ_Index.htm and a link to the FAQs can be found in the right hand “Reporting Quick Links” of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program website homepage.

Currently Available in the FAQ Index Section

• General Information  
• Reporting Concepts/ Entity Definitions
• Changes to the Entity and Entity Reports
• Subentities
• Start Year vs. Reporting Year
• Registering vs. Reporting but not Registering
• Small vs. Large Emitters
• Foreign Activities
• Certification and Independent Verification
• Estimating Emissions and Emissions Reductions/ Emission Factors and GWPs
• Emission Inventories
• Offsets
• Emission Reduction Methods
• De Minimis Emissions

Revised Propane Emission Factors Posted On Web Site
April 2009

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has revised the emission factors that are to be used by participants in EIA’s Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program to calculate emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide resulting from the use of propane in stationary and mobile combustion sources. The revision is meant to correct for a minor error in the density of propane upon which the factors are based.  A link to the revised factors can be found by clicking on “Emissions Factors” on the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program Web site homepage (http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/index.html) and then choosing “Fuel Emissions Factors”. 

What Can You Report in 2009?
April 2009

We have been working to re-launch the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (“1605(b)”) Program since the guidelines were revised in April 2007. Software development and testing delays pushed the Program re-launch, originally scheduled for fall 2008, to summer 2009. See the revised schedule.

Since no data have been collected since 2006 (for data year 2005), we have received several questions as to whether you will be able to submit data for 2006, 2007, and 2008 when reporting resumes.

Yes, EIA will be accepting data for 2006, 2007, and 2008 into your Start Year reports, provided they are included in your Base Period. The data years you submit in 2009 will depend on what Base Period you select.

Here is a summary of what you can report in 2009:

• If you intend to “register” emission reductions, you may submit a Start Year report for 2002 or later, i.e., with a Base Period ending no earlier than 2002 and no later than 2008. (If your entity participates in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leaders Program or the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Climate VISION Program and has made an emission reduction commitment using a base year earlier than 2002, you may use that earlier year as the last year of your Base Period for the purposes of registering reductions provided it is no earlier than 2000.)
  
  
• If you intend to “report but not register” emission reductions, you may submit a Start Year report for 1990 or later, i.e., with a Base Period ending no earlier than 1990.

Once EIA has approved your Start Year report, you will be able to submit reports for all years following your Base Period through 2009. If you intend to register emission reductions, you must submit reports for all intervening years since gaps in reporting are not permitted.

If you have any questions concerning what you can report to the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program in 2009, or any general questions about the Program, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Center at InfoGHG@eia.doe.gov or call toll free at 800-803-5182.

1605(b) Web Site Redesigned for Enhanced Program
February 2009

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce the launch of the enhanced Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases or 1605(b) Program Web site. The site has been redesigned in anticipation of the launch of revised 1605(b) Program. It provides online access to all 1605(b) information and materials, including new reporting forms conforming to the revised guidelines that were finalized in March 2006 (General Guidelines) and January 2007 (Technical Guidelines). As the reporting cycle for data through 2008 nears, we will continue to add updated content to support the preparation of reports under the revised guidelines.

The lists below describe the resources currently available on—and coming soon to—this web site.

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve the 1605(b) Program. Please do not hesitate to contact the Program’s Communications Center at 1-800-803-5182 or infoghg@eia.doe.gov if you have any questions about the revised 1605(b) Program.

Currently Available

Original 1605(b) Program: Archive of all legacy VRGG Program information, including links to the original guidelines, forms, software, reports, and data.

Getting Started: Useful conceptual questions to help entities begin preparing their reports. Also available is the Getting Started Tool, an interactive Excel workbook used to determine what parts of Form EIA-1605 reporters need to complete.

Reporting Guidelines: Links to the Revised General and Technical Guidelines, available in PDF form.

Emission Factors and GWPs: The instructions, tables, and factors needed to prepare emission inventories, calculate emission reductions, and convert emissions from native units to carbon dioxide equivalents.

Coming Soon

Reporting Schedule: Details about this year's reporting cycle schedule.

Reporting Tools: Spreadsheet-based tools created to guide reporters in the calculations of their emissions and emission reductions.

Forms and Instructions: EIA currently offers access to the paper version of Form EIA—1605(b) and its instructions. By the fall, EIA expects this page to provide a gateway to the Web-based, electronic reporting system.

Data and Reports: Data and reports for each reporting cycle under the revised Program as they are produced. Legacy program data and reports will also be available.

FAQs: Questions and answers pertaining to 1605(b) basics, reporting essentials, industry-specific topics, and climate science terminology for potential reporters.

Revised Fuel Emission Factors Posted On Web Site
May 2008

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has revised the fuel emission factors that may be used to calculate emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide resulting from the use of fossil and other fuels in stationary and mobile combustion sources. A link to these emission factors can be found under “Emissions Factors and GWPs” on the Technical Assistance page on the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program Web site. These emission factors will be included as Appendix H in revised instructions to Form EIA-1605, which will be posted on EIA’s Web site shortly.

In addition to correcting errors in the emission factors included in the Technical Guidelines, emission factors for all fuels, with the exception of municipal solid waste (MSW), have been revised to reflect 100 percent oxidation, which is the default oxidation factor specified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Revised April 2007). The emission factor for MSW assumes 98 percent oxidation.

EIA is currently overhauling the Web site for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program and will send an e-mail announcement when the updated site is ready. Please do not hesitate to contact the Program’s Communications Center at 1-800-803-5182 or infoghg@eia.doe.gov if you have any questions about the revised 1605(b) Program.