The 10 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) have been awarded a Climate Protection Award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes RGGI as a model for federal climate legislation and honors each state as a global leader in protecting the climate.
The EPA recognized the RGGI states for their leadership in building a model cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Each participating state has implemented rules to cap emissions of CO2 from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
Together, the RGGI states auction over 80% of allowances and dedicate the proceeds to consumer benefit programs. To date, the RGGI states have conducted three auctions that have generated over $262 million for energy efficiency, energy conservation, clean energy development and other consumer benefit programs throughout the region.
‘RGGI has shown that auctioning generates funds that can be reinvested in the new economy to create jobs, save energy and help us meet the greatest environmental challenge of our time: climate change,’ says Phil Giudice, treasurer of RGGI Inc.'s board of directors.
Winners of the awards were chosen on the basis of originality and public purpose. global perspective and implication, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
SOURCE: Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Inc.