Learn about the
Governor's consensus plan
How do we protect energy consumers and our climate? Learn more.
For More Information on RGGI:
The Muskie School of Public Service at the USM and the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine worked together to develop a primer that outlines the elements behind RGGI and its implementation in Maine. To find out more and download a copy of the primer please click here. (PDF file)
Learn more about how global warming will affect the climate of the Northeastern US in a new report of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment. This report was published by the Union of Concerned Scientists in collaboration with a team of independent experts.
A new power plant global warming bill that will be introduced in Maine’s Legislature helps to prevent global warming while also improving our economy and health and saving money on energy.
Global Warming threatens our health, our environment and our economy.
Maine already is seeing the warning signs of global warming, with sea-level rise, less snow, and hotter summers. In addition, global warming will cause increasing asthma rates and Lyme disease, drought for farmers, and a sagging winter recreation economy. Scientists agree that we need to achieve 75-85% reductions in global warming pollution to avoid the worst effects of global warming. For more information on the effects of global warming in Maine, click here.
RGGI is a cooperative initiative with bipartisan support. RGGI is a program to reduce global warming pollution from fossil-fueled power plants. RGGI was developed by the governors of seven northeastern states including Maine (D), Connecticut (R), Delaware (D), New Hampshire (D), New Jersey (D), New York (R) and Vermont (R). Maryland will join RGGI by June 30, 2007, and Massachusetts and Rhode Island rejoined RGGI in 2007. In October of 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger (R) of California issued an executive order linking the state’s GHG reduction program to RGGI. We need the Legislature to pass this bill so that Maine can officially join RGGI.
The Power Plant Global Warming Bill is our most effective and practical solution.
The Power Plant Global Warming Bill is the most important step in Maine’s Climate Action Plan, our state’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI is a top priority out of 54 measures, and it will reduce global warming pollution from power plants by nearly 20% by the year 2019. It also creates incentives for energy efficiency and clean, renewable power – good for our health and a necessary step to achieve our energy independence.
The initiative increases Maine’s impact by joining with eight other northeastern states. Together these states, add up to the seventh largest source of global warming pollution in the world. More than 30% of this pollution comes from dirty power plants.
RGGI provides numerous economic benefits by stimulating economic investment and supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
RGGI presents an opportunity to save residential, commercial, and industrial customers 5 to 15% on electricity bills and help protect against rate increases. It can generate an “energy fund” worth up to $30 million to help households and businesses save money and invest in energy efficiency. RGGI creates a new “carbon market” in the Northeast, with opportunities for everyone from dairy farmers to high-tech companies able to cash in. RGGI will help Maine companies compete in the global economy, including places like Europe and Japan, which have already taken actions to combat global warming.
Similar programs have proven successful.
Programs like RGGI have been used very successfully to fight ozone and acid rain in the United States.
A program like it is also being used in Europe to fight global warming.