RESOURCES News & Updates

September 29, 2008

First RGGI Auction takes place

On Thursday, September 25 the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a partnership among 10 Northeastern states, made history by conducting the first-ever U.S. auction of permits to emit carbon dioxide under a mandatory cap-and-trade system. RGGI covers electric power plants located in all six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Under the program, which goes into effect on January 1, the total emissions allowed from the 10 states’ electricity plants will be capped at the same level through 2014 and then reduced by 10 percent by 2019. Each plant will have to obtain a permit, or an allowance, for each ton of carbon dioxide it emits.  The RGGI program sets several important precedents for a national cap-and-trade program.  First, the states are auctioning almost all of the permits, rather than giving them to plants for free. The states have also committed to spending the resulting revenue on programs that help homeowners, businesses and industries make their buildings more energy efficient and on initiatives that support the development of renewable energy sources. With a closing price of $3.07/ton, the Sept. 25th auction, in which only Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maryland participated, netted nearly $39 million.  The next quarterly auction is scheduled for December 17.

August 2008

Pennsylvania Climate Change Act

This summer, Pennsylvania enacted the first global warming legislation in the state with the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act. This is an exciting victory for Pennsylvania climate action! The bill requires the state to report on the impact of climate changes on temperature and precipitation, the potential impact on health, the economy, forests, recreation, agriculture, and tourism in Pennsylvania, and economic opportunities created by reducing global warming pollution. As one of the top producers of heat-trapping emissions in the United States, Pennsylvania is now becoming a leader in taking steps to reduce emissions.
 
The bill also requires an annual inventory of all global warming pollution emitted in Pennsylvania, as well as a voluntary global warming pollution registry aimed at collecting information about voluntary reductions of emissions by institutions, businesses, and other entities.

Massachusetts and Connecticut Pass Global Warming Bills

August 2008
Massachusetts and Connecticut Pass Global Warming Bills

This summer both Massachusetts and Connecticut signed bills to reduce their states’ heat-trapping emissions. Connecticut’s bill calls for reductions of a 10 percent below that of 1990 by 2020, and 80 percent below 2001 by 2050. Massachusetts’s bill calls for 10 to 25 percent cut in global warming emissions below 1990 levels by 2020 and an 80 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050. Thanks to the tireless efforts of citizens, scientists, and a coalition of environmental organizations, Massachusetts and Connecticut join four other states to pass similar legislation on mandatory reductions--California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Washington.

On June 2, Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell signed the bill that was approved unanimously by the Connecticut State Senate requiring substantial reductions in emissions of global warming pollution in the state. At the end of July, Massachusetts legislators passed and Governor Deval Patrick signed the Global Warming Solutions Act. The bill makes it clear that Massachusetts will be a leader in the clean energy economy, and it will help set the stage for national climate change policy. Both these bills show the continuing momentum for strong climate action and help lay the groundwork for federal policy.