RGGI States Release Final Model Rule & Economic Analysis

WASHINGTON DC - For the last two years the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) states have been conducting a review of their carbon pollution reduction policies in order to set goals that will plot the future course of the program out to 2030. Today, the states released a final model rule that memorializes an agreement to strengthen RGGI, together with economic modeling data that shows the changes will spur economic growth and job creation in the region.

Advocacy groups, including environmental and consumer stakeholders, are praising the states for setting out goals that will help prevent the worst impacts of climate change and accelerate the region's progress toward a clean energy future, and for conducting an open, transparent, and responsive stakeholder process. As the states implement the program changes and other policies, including future RGGI program reviews, these groups urge the RGGI states to continue to strengthen carbon pollution reductions, ensure a robust environmental justice community engagement and analysis, and an inclusive stakeholder processes.

After more than 18 months of stakeholder meetings and technical modeling of the future of the program, the RGGI states agreed to cut carbon pollution from power plants by at least 30 percent more by 2030. This reduction is on top of the more than 40 percent reduction in pollution that the states have already achieved since RGGI launched in 2009. The proposed update also includes adjustments to key implementation pieces that will ensure the program has the necessary policy mechanisms to achieve these goals. The participating RGGI states are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In response to today's release of the final model Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative rule and accompanying economic modeling data, consumer advocacy and environmental groups issued the following quotes:

“We applaud the governors for leading a bipartisan effort that has delivered real progress for their states and the nation in fighting global warming,” Andrea McGimsey, Global Warming Solutions Director for Environment America said. “Now they have made the partnership even stronger, which will lead to cleaner air for their constituents and much more clean energy on the grid.”

“RGGI continues to set the standard for state climate action. The rule released today will slash carbon pollution, create thousands of new jobs and grow the region’s economy, while protecting public health and saving lives,” Jackson Morris, Director of the Eastern Energy Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council said. “With New Jersey and Virginia poised to join, these benefits will further grow. As the states move next to tackle the largest source of carbon pollution in the region – the transportation sector – RGGI offers an attractive model they could use to modernize mobility, grow the economy, and further clean up our air.”

“The RGGI states are demonstrating what it takes to step up as climate leaders, taking the program to the next level by driving even deeper cuts into pollution and setting a model for the rest of the nation to follow,” Conor Bambrick, Air and Energy Director at Environmental Advocates of New York said. “As the states move to implement the new rules, we are looking to Governor Cuomo to move New York to the forefront of climate action by making sure carbon cuts occur economy-wide, and that our RGGI funds are dedicated to clean energy investments and cutting pollution in communities on the front lines of climate change.”

"Thanks to all of the officials who have accelerated climate protections by strengthening the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Now families, businesses, and communities will have more jobs, lower costs, and healthier lives,” Mark Kresowik, Eastern Region Deputy Director for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign said. “This is what bipartisan clean energy leadership looks like. As other states look to learn from this effective and popular model, we encourage participating states to commit to collaboratively reducing climate pollution and investing in a modern transportation system next."