Post by caseagainstfaith on May 26, 2011 14:39:05 GMT -5
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday that he plans to remove the state from a regional U.S. greenhouse-gas emission-reduction program.
The nearly six-year-old program, called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI (pronounced, "Reggie"), includes 10 Northeastern states from Maine to Maryland and is the only operating U.S. cap-and-trade program. RGGI member states require power-plant operators to cap their carbon-dioxide emissions and gradually reduce the emissions over time. The goal is to cut power-sector carbon dioxide emissions by 10% by 2018.
Companies that can't cut their emissions can buy pollution allowances from a state, or from each other. States have spent the proceeds of allowance sales on renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs.
In New Jersey, Mr. Christie, a Republican, has tapped some of those funds to balance the state's budget.
Mr. Christie said the RGGI program doesn't work, although he said he believes that humans play a part in climate change and that he is committed to reducing pollution.
The RGGI program "is a failure," Mr. Christie said at a press conference in Trenton, N.J. He added that New Jersey has met its greenhouse-gas emissions-reduction goals.
Environmental activists say the program's cost to consumers is relatively low. Jeff Tittel, head of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said it wasn't as tough as some would have liked.
"It's a very moderate program," he said. "It's not like this is some big Sierra Club, socialistic, make-everyone-ride-bicycles-and-have-solar-panels-on-their-house type of proposal."
Conservatives say the higher energy bills that come because of RGGI keep businesses away or drive them out of the state. Some critics have pointed to Pennsylvania, which isn't a member of RGGI, as being more business friendly and having lower electricity rates than New Jersey.
The nearly six-year-old program, called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI (pronounced, "Reggie"), includes 10 Northeastern states from Maine to Maryland and is the only operating U.S. cap-and-trade program. RGGI member states require power-plant operators to cap their carbon-dioxide emissions and gradually reduce the emissions over time. The goal is to cut power-sector carbon dioxide emissions by 10% by 2018.
Companies that can't cut their emissions can buy pollution allowances from a state, or from each other. States have spent the proceeds of allowance sales on renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs.
In New Jersey, Mr. Christie, a Republican, has tapped some of those funds to balance the state's budget.
Mr. Christie said the RGGI program doesn't work, although he said he believes that humans play a part in climate change and that he is committed to reducing pollution.
The RGGI program "is a failure," Mr. Christie said at a press conference in Trenton, N.J. He added that New Jersey has met its greenhouse-gas emissions-reduction goals.
Environmental activists say the program's cost to consumers is relatively low. Jeff Tittel, head of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said it wasn't as tough as some would have liked.
"It's a very moderate program," he said. "It's not like this is some big Sierra Club, socialistic, make-everyone-ride-bicycles-and-have-solar-panels-on-their-house type of proposal."
Conservatives say the higher energy bills that come because of RGGI keep businesses away or drive them out of the state. Some critics have pointed to Pennsylvania, which isn't a member of RGGI, as being more business friendly and having lower electricity rates than New Jersey.
source - online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304520804576347560078618994.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
I wouldn't expect this from new jersey....but maybe they will come to their senses. I think its just more GOP talking out of their ass.
