Western Australia's Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has authorised a policy investigation that could make redundant the carbon offset requirements favoured by the state's EPA.
Woodside tried to sell to the federal government carbon credits that it created to satisfy a mandatory state offset condition for its Pluto LNG plant, and is now being audited by the Western Australian government.
Western Australia's EPA has recommended approval for BHP projects that could boost the state's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4%, and has left open the possibility of carbon offset conditions.
Chevron is facing the prospect of tougher greenhouse gas conditions for its Wheatstone LNG plant, after the Western Australian EPA today announced it would review the existing requirement.
Western Australia's environmental regulator isn't requiring Woodside to offset any Pluto LNG greenhouse gas emissions, even though the company is subject to an offset obligation.
The Federal Government has proposed amendments to Carbon Farming Initiative regulations that will make it possible to earn credits from three new activities, and WA iron ore projects might become a beneficiary.