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5.ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST MOUNTAIN HOUSE NEIGHBORHOODS K AND L INITIAL STUDY 3.AIR QUALITY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Assembly Bill 32 In 2006,the California Legislature adopted AB 32,the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, In adopting this legislation (commonly known as"AB 32"), the legislature declared that"[g]lobal warming poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and the environment of California." Further, the legislature found that"the potential adverse impacts of e global warming include the exacerbation of air quality problems,a reduction in the quality and supply of water to the state from the Sierra snowpack, a rise in sea levels resulting in the displacement of thousands of coastal businesses and residences,damage to marine ecosystems and the natural environment, and an increase in the incidences of infectious disease, asthma, and other human health-related problems."The legislature added that"[g]lobal warming will have detrimental effects on some of California's largest industries"and "increase the strain on electricity supplies necessary to meet the demand for summer air- conditioning in the hottest parts of the state," AB 32 initiated a long-term program for"the development of[GHG]emissions reduction measures."4 It"creates a comprehensive, multi-year program to reduce GHG emissions in California,with the overall goal of restoring emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020."5 AB 32 recognizes that such an ambitious effort requires careful planning and a well-thought-out set of strategies.Accordingly, AB 32 delegated the authority for its implementation to CARB and directs CARB to enforce the statewide cap that would begin phasing in by 2012.Among other requirements,AB 32 required CARB to 1) identify the statewide level of GHG emissions in 1990 to serve as the emissions limit to be achieved by 2020, and 2) develop and implement a Scoping Plan to be implemented by January 1,2012. In November 2007, CARB completed its estimates of 1990 GHG levels. Net emission 1990 levels were estimated at 427 million metric tons(MMTs). e (Emission sources by sector were transportation, 35 percent; electricity generation, 26 percent; industrial, 24 percent; residential, 7 percent;agriculture, 5 percent; and commercial, 3 percent.6)Accordingly,427 MMTs of CO2 equivalent was established as the emissions limit for 2020. For comparison, CARB's estimate for 2000 baseline GHG emissions was 473 MMT for 2000 and 532 MMT for 2010. "Business as usual"conditions for 2020 were projected to be 596 MMTs.Therefore,to comply with AB 32's mandate, GHG emissions would need to be reduced from 596 MMTs (i.e., 2020"business as usual")to 427 MMTs(the 1990 level),which is a reduction of 29 percent.This latter forecast did not take any credit for reductions from measures included in the AB ■ 32 Scoping Plan, including the Pavley GHG emissions standards for vehicles,full C� 4 As defined under AB 32,greenhouse gas emissions include the following:carbon dioxide, methane,nitrous oxide,hydrofluorocarbons(HFCs),perfluorocarbon(PFCs),and sulfur hexafluoride. e Written on a public notice prepared by the staff of CARB in connection with a meeting to consider "early discrete actions"related to AB 32 on October 25,2007. b On a national level, the EPA's Endangerment Finding stated that electricity generation is the largest emitting sector (34 percent), followed by transportation (28 percent), and industry (19 percent). {arrm� 5-30