Providence, RI -
Environmental groups are praising the General Assembly for passing legislation
to reduce global warming pollution from power plants. Rhode
Island is already experiencing the effects of global warming like
rising sea levels, increased beach erosion and warmer waters in Narragansett Bay and the future impacts of global warming
will be even more severe unless pollution levels are reduced.
The new law passed by
the General Assembly, H-5577 (Handy) & S-943 (Algiere) will govern
implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional
program to cap and reduce global warming pollution from power
plants.
“This legislation means
less global warming pollution from power plants and that is a good thing for our
coastline, our beaches and the Bay,” said Matt Auten, Advocate for Environment
Rhode Island. “Not only does this bill cap global warming pollution from power
plants, it also forces dirty power generators to buy pollution permits and
allocates those funds for clean energy projects like improving energy efficiency
and producing more renewable energy.”
“The General Assembly
has proved it is serious about combating global warming, the defining
environmental issue of our generation," said Cynthia Giles of the Conservation
Law Foundation, one of the groups that has been pushing for Rhode Island's
participation in RGGI. "The bill sets a tough environmental standard, and will
save consumers money by reducing overall demand for
power."
“We are excited that the
General Assembly has issued strong guidelines for implementing RGGI,” said
Denise Parillo, Campaign Organizer for Clean Water Action. “We commend the
General Assembly for their leadership and urge Gov. Carcieri to sign this bill
into law.”
The RGGI pact reduces global warming pollution by
requiring power plants across the region to gradually reduce the pollution they
emit. For each ton of carbon dioxide emitted, power plants must buy a pollution
“allowance.” Over time, the total number of allowances will be reduced across
the region, resulting in less carbon going into the air.
The plan is an advantage to ratepayers because
Rhode Island
can auction its pollution allowances to power plant operators, creating a fund
that can be used to benefit consumers. Studies of RGGI have shown that careful
use of this fund should result in reduced energy costs to
consumers.
Other states already signed onto the regional pact
include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont.
