Hawaii Passes Global Warming Legislation

May 7

Hawaii has become the second U.S. state to pass legislation capping greenhouse gas emissions. Modeled after California's landmark law, Hawaii's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2007 requires the island state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. A task force would have until the end of 2009 to devise a regulatory plan to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions limits. Like California, Hawaii will consider a carbon trading market as one way to meet the targets. The Democrat-controlled Legislature passed the global warming law late last week by a huge margin, with only four legislators voting against it. Republican Governor Linda Lingle has until July 10 to act on the legislation.