Mainebiz news story A bill passed unanimously by the Maine Legislature to remain part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative through 2030 became law without the governor’s signature. LD 1657, “An Act To Update the Allowance Budget for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,” was prepared by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection after nine Read More
RGGI
New Stronger Northeast Climate Pact Becomes Law Today, Passed Maine Legislature Unanimously
Today, a bill passed unanimously by the Maine Legislature has become law, reauthorizing Maine to remain part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) through 2030, and ensuring deeper pollution cuts from power plants. LD 1657, sponsored by Rep. Ralph Tucker, was prepared by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection after the nine northeast states Read More
Support of LD 1657, An Act to Update the Allowance Budget for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Senator Saviello, Representative Tucker, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, my name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). Thank you for allowing me to present this testimony in support of this legislation. While this bill itself is not—in Read More
Maine and 8 Other States Pledge to Reduce Emissions by Another 30 Percent
by Fred Bever Maine Public news story Nine states in the region, including Maine, say they will set more aggressive limits on pollution by electricity generation plants. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, is a market-based cap-and-trade program that sets limits on carbon-dioxide emissions in participating states. Power generators can buy and sell emission Read More
Aggressive Caps on Carbon Emissions Would Benefit Regional Greenhouse Gas Efforts
The program has missed opportunities to do more for the environment, energy efficiency and the economy. by Tom Tietenberg of Waterville is the Mitchell Family Professor of Economics Emeritus at Colby College Portland Press Herald op-ed WATERVILLE — One of the unsung heroes in Maine’s drive to prepare our homes and businesses for a secure Read More
New RGGI Guidelines Could Earn Maine Up to $22.5M a Year in Pollution-cutting Credits
by Lori Valigra Mainebiz news story Maine could stand to earn a maximum of $22.5 million and a minimum of $13.7 million a year through 2030, depending on how much and how fast the state plans to cut pollution in coming years, a recent National Resources Defense Council analysis shows. Maine and the five other Read More
Our View: Regional Climate Initiative is Victim of its Own Success
If regulators don’t lower the carbon cap, Maine will miss out on the benefits of efficiency projects. By The Editorial Board Portland Press Herald editorial There has been so much bad news about the battle against climate change lately, it’s easy to forget that some recent news has been very good. For instance, even though Read More
Support of LD 1313, An Act to Establish Energy Policy in Maine and in Opposition to LD 1515
Senator David Woodsome, Chair Representative Seth Berry, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology My name is Dylan Voorhees and I am the Clean Energy Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). Thank you for allowing us to present this joint testimony on these two closely related bills. NRCM strongly supports Read More
It’s Possible to Reduce Carbon Emissions Without Sacrificing Economic Growth
By Tom Tietenberg, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed In 2005, Maine and eight other northeastern and mid-Atlantic states banded together to create the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reduce carbon emissions. The initiative is a form of carbon pricing. It sets an annual cap on the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions Read More
