New Jersey has adopted regulations restricting the emission of carbon dioxide from electricity-generating power plants, allowing the state to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative effective January 1, 2020.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or
RGGI, is the first mandatory market-based program in the United States
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI was formed in 2007 by
agreement of participating states. At present, nine states participate
in RGGI: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Each participating state
has adopted regulations under its own state laws, based on a model rule
which requires the electric power sector to cap and reduce CO2 emissions, and which creates markets for trading emission allowances. Originally, New Jersey was a participant in the RGGI program, but in 2011, Governor Chris Christie announced that New Jersey planned to cease its participation in the interstate compact.
On June 17. 2019, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection adopted rules implementing the state's participation in RGGI. The same day, the regional organization RGGI Inc. issued a public statement finding that New Jersey's final rule is consistent with the RGGI Model Rule and with existing state regulations, and that New Jersey's starting carbon dioxide allowance budget and emissions reduction trajectory demonstrate comparable stringency with the existing RGGI program. As a result, the RGGI states welcome New Jersey as a participant starting January 1, 2020.
Other states, including Virginia and Pennsylvania, have been considering joining RGGI, although legislation enacted in Virginia last month effectively blocks Virginia from joining RGGI for now.
Energy powers society; society's choices shape energy policy. A blog about our energy resources and the choices they present for society.
No comments:
Post a Comment