The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI — the nation’s first regional market-based program to set limits on carbon pollution — generates funding for clean energy by requiring fossil fuel polluters to pay. This critical climate program, based in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, is a successful cap-and-invest system that enables participating states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants.
RGGI provides the framework for how funds can be reinvested in clean energy and energy efficiency programs to reduce costs and create green jobs with family-sustaining wages, all while tackling the climate crisis by cutting carbon pollution.
Eleven states currently participate in RGGI including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. Pennsylvania would have joined in 2022, but a court challenge by fossil fuel polluters put the rule on hold, and Commonwealth Court just threw it out!
Climate change is putting future generations at risk and Governor Shapiro has until 12/1 to appeal the flawed ruling to the PA Supreme Court!
Tell Gov. Shapiro to defend RGGI! Send a Message.
How does the program work?
Polluters reduce their carbon emissions by purchasing and trading pollution permits, known as “allowances”, in a regional auction. Regulatory agencies set an annual declining limit (or cap) on carbon pollution, and enforce adherence by issuing a specific number of “allowances”, each is equal to one ton of carbon dioxide. Member states receive revenues generated from the auction to invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency programs, and thousands of green, living-wage jobs. It's a win-win for participating states and the climate.
What are the Benefits of RGGI?
Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI is common sense. It will create a path toward a more stable climate, healthier air, a robust clean energy economy, and lower electricity bills, all while reducing our reliance on dirty fuels.
- Acting on Climate: States participating in RGGI have been able to successfully reduce emissions while growing the region’s economy. From 2005-2013, RGGI states experienced a carbon reduction of over 40% from electricity generation while the regional economy grew by 8%.
- Health Benefits: High levels of air pollution from CO2-emitting power plants can lead to health issues like asthma, COPD, and other respiratory diseases. Reducing carbon pollution through RGGI can significantly clean up the air we breathe, resulting in nearly $5.7 billion in health benefits and healthcare savings since 2008.
- Clean Energy Economy: Participation in RGGI will increase state revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars per year from fossil fuel polluters for investment in energy efficiency programs and local renewable energy. From 2015-2017, RGGI led to $1.4 billion in net economic benefits across the region.
- Affordability: Through programs like RGGI, families can save on electric utility bills through energy efficiency and reduced consumption. From 2008-2017 electricity prices dropped by 5.7% in the RGGI states as they went up by 8.6% throughout the rest of the country.
Want to learn more about the benefits of RGGI? View our RGGI factsheet.
Ways to Take Action
Help us support RGGI and climate action in PA!
- Tell Gov. Shapiro to defend RGGI! Send a Message.
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Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. We can help!
Questions? Contact Nate Reagle, Clean Energy Program Advocate