The WCI approved and released its final white paper on complementary policies at the May 20 Partner meeting in Seattle, WA.  Complementary policies can address market barriers that would otherwise limit the use of low-cost greenhouse gas emission-reduction options and reduce emissions from sources excluded from the cap-and-trade program.

The WCI Partner jurisdictions formed the Complementary Policies Committee in 2009 to recommend to the Partners those policies which, if harmonized across multiple states and provinces both within and outside the WCI Partner jurisdictions, would help achieve the regional emissions reduction goals and assist with the transition to a low-carbon economy.  

To begin identifying candidate complementary policies and solicit stakeholder input, the Committee produced a draft white paper of recommended policies, which was released in December 2009 for a 60-day comment period.  The draft white paper was also accompanied by a stakeholder webinar.  On the basis of input received and further deliberations, the Committee carefully considered stakeholder input to develop a final white paper for the WCI Partners.

Going forward, the Committee expects to further prioritize and develop recommendations on the complementary policies provided in the final white paper.  The Committee will continue to engage stakeholders in future work and is currently developing an outreach plan to consider a number of options for doing so based on suggestions from stakeholders.  Reports that address workforce issues and climate change adaptation efforts will also forthcoming from the Committee.