A Kansas House panel approved a process for establishing a greenhouse gas reduction plan on Thursday. KMUW's Abigail Wilson has more...
A Kansas House panel has approved a process for establishing a greenhouse gas reduction plan.
The House Energy and Environment Committee approved the measure Thursday.
The Environmental Protection Agency has directed all states to develop stricter emissions standards by June 2016. States without a suitable plan will have federal regulations imposed upon them.
The EPA estimates Kansas would have to cut emissions 23 percent from 2012 levels by 2030.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment would have the power to develop an emissions plan under the bill and the Legislature's energy committees would be required to approve or reject it.
Environmental advocacy lobbyist Rabbi Moti Rieber said he generally supports the measure because alternative proposals might have caused Kansas to miss the deadline and face a federal plan.
