We admire the great work done by all governors and leaders in the New England states. We are clearly fighting a race to clean our air, and reduce greenhouse gases, before permanent environmental damage takes hold and our climate, including weather, starts to become more unpredictable and severe.
Of course, other states much follow. Much of the emissions that get carried into New England, as an example, originate in the Midwest. Our pollution levels and resulting problems are worldwide. However, attacking the main source of heavy air pollutants, spewing from local power plants, is a very good and rapid policy change that will offer us immediate benefits.
Here's the story as reported in RI's local media:
States announce deal to cut greenhouse gasses
States agreed to reduce carbon dioxide gap by 2.5%
Updated: Thursday, 07 Feb 2013, 2:19 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 07 Feb 2013, 2:19 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 07 Feb 2013, 2:19 PM EST
BOSTON (AP) -- A multi-state agreement calls for a 45 percent reduction next year in allowable greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative announced Thursday would lower the cap on carbon dioxide emissions from 165 million tons to 91 million tons in 2014.
The states agreed to further reduce the cap by 2.5 percent per year from 2015-2020.
The nine Northeast and mid-Atlantic states that participate in the cap-and-trade agreement are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
The initiative is the nation's first market-based greenhouse gas regulatory program. Backers say it has cut emissions by 30 percent in past several years and reduced average electricity prices by 10 percent.
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