B.C. expands greenhouse gas new-entrant rules to cover parts of industrial operations and proposed operations

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

Two B.C. greenhouse gas regulations have been updated to allow parts of an industrial operation—not just whole operations—to qualify as "new entrants" with reduced compliance obligations, provided the operation has increased its regulated-product capacity by at least 80% through the addition of that part. Proposed industrial operations can now apply for new-entrant designation before they begin reporting, and their new-entrant period starts on the earlier of a requested date or their date of first commercial shipment. A new regulated product category—"lime recovered by kiln" in chemical pulp mills—has been added to Schedule A.1 with its own benchmark emissions intensity and reduction factor, and a terminology fix changes "hydrogenated-derived" to "hydrogenation-derived" renewable diesel in Schedule C. Cross-references in the administrative penalties regulation have been updated to reflect renumbered sections. Operators in industrial sectors—especially pulp and paper—who are expanding capacity, building new facilities, or producing lime via kiln should review whether they or a part of their operation may now qualify for new-entrant status and what application requirements and timelines apply.

Who this affects: industrial operations subject to B.C. greenhouse gas compliance obligations · pulp and paper mill operators · operators expanding regulated-product capacity · proposed industrial operations seeking new-entrant designation · compliance and reporting officers at regulated operations