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Q: What’s your take on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)?
Sean Faircloth
Greenhouse gas reduction is one of the most important issues of all time, yet we have no leadership from the White House. Luckily, Maine has legislators such as State Rep. Ted Koffman and State Sen. Phil Bartlett, who have demonstrated national vision and skill with regard to this important issue.
In 2007, Koffman and Bartlett worked with a team of legislators to limit greenhouse gas emissions from our state’s power plants by having Maine join a 10-state agreement. This is designed to reduce pollution from power plants by 10% by the year 2018. The bill, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), was signed by the governor in June 2007.
Besides directly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, power plants may either offset emissions by buying an offset allowance for up to 3% of their emissions, or by engaging in countervailing measures such as capturing methane or planting trees.
The fact is power plants are not going to reduce carbon emissions unless they have an incentive to do so. RGGI requires the power plants in the 10 participating states to collectively clean up their acts—while giving them the leeway to meet the requirements that make the most economic sense for their businesses.
Here’s how it works: 10 northeastern states are participating in RGGI, which will create a regional market in which emission allowances are bought and sold like a commodity. Plants that emit fewer emissions than mandated are given “credits” they can sell to other plants that are not yet in compliance. Each state must also sell or auction a minimum of 25% of its allowances and use proceeds to benefit consumers with efforts such as ratepayer rebates, energy efficiency, and clean technologies. Not only are emissions reduced, but new power production methods are funded by those who are dragging their heels in improving their technology.
This plan was not created in a vacuum. Koffman and Bartlett met early with the power industry participants, and environmental experts also attended these collaborative meetings. The result in the Maine Legislature was an overwhelming bipartisan vote in support of RGGI, a vote for better business practices, for a cleaner environment, a more efficient state, green technology, and a better future for our children. Most Republicans joined the majority—with only seven Maine House Republicans voting no.
Leaders in the House, including Majority Leader Hannah Pingree and Speaker Glenn Cummings helped form a consensus approach on the vital issue of global warming. They also helped cool some very hot air billowing from extremists such as Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh who spread false information aimed at delaying society’s transition to cleaner energy. Fortunately, the Maine Legislature did the right thing for the future of Maine people and our environment.
It’s my guess that Representative Koffman will be a leader on environmental and natural resources issues for years to come, and that, sooner or later, Senator Bartlett will serve Maine in federal or statewide office. These leaders are just two examples of Maine legislators of such high caliber that they could match the best that any other state legislature has to offer.
Sean Faircloth is serving his third consecutive term representing Bangor in the Maine House. He serves as House Majority Whip.
----
2008. The world’s coldest winter in seven years. Caribou, Maine, has record snowfall. North America? The most snow cover since 1958. China—the country—has its coldest winter in 100 years. Baghdad, Iraq, sees its first snow in recorded history. Record cold temperatures hit Mexico, Australia, Iran, Greece, South Africa, Greenland, Argentina, Chile. The four major global temperature tracking outlets’ data show a yearlong drop in world temperatures, wiping out 100 years of warming.
Meanwhile, the Baldacci administration has Maine on track, starting in 2009, to allegedly fight global warming through the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). (Pronounced like “veggie” with an “R”.) Huh?
Starting in 2009, Maine and the other RGGI state governments will determine one acceptable level of so-called greenhouse gas emissions from their electric generating businesses for the whole 10-state region. Each participating state then gets a part of the accepted total emissions to use in negotiating with its electricity producers. Maine’s targets are: Florida Power and Light (Falmouth), Calpine (Westbrook), Rumford Power (Rumford), Verso Paper (Androscoggin and Bucksport).
Maine’s electricity-generating businesses will be required to buy from Maine government permission to emit greenhouse gas emissions sufficient to operate their businesses. If they exceed government’s limits, the businesses will be fined. Maine government will use the permission/fine money to pursue alternative energy projects, i.e., capturing methane from cow manure.
Professor Jon Reisman mentions RGGI in “Drinking the Green Kool-Aid” in Bangor Metro’s “Green Issue” in March 2008: RGGI “will . . . raise [Maine] energy prices, yet will avert essentially no global warming.”
RGGI skepticism cuts across political sides—“democrat” (small “d”) is the pen name of a five-and-a-half-year contributor to AsMaineGoes.com who works in public relations for Maine Democrat politicians. He first warned us about RGGI on January 18, 2007, writing, “RGGI [is] going to cost you big time. I was listening to a discussion with our DEP commissioner . . . today about RGGI . . . It’s a ‘memorandum of understanding’ signed by Maine and . . . other . . . states that . . . charge[s] a tax on greenhouse gases by establishing a cap-and-trade program [on] electric generators. [T]his could increase electric supply costs by 10% for Maine consumers. [RGGI] will increase the cost to our businesses . . . already having a tough time competing with [other states]. Of course, reducing Maine’s share (1%) of these gases will make a BIG difference—right?”
Reisman tried to have enacted a RGGI cost/benefit analysis law. Reisman’s law would have allowed the Baldacci administration to go forward with RGGI, but Baldacci would also have to tell Maine taxpayers how much greenhouse gas emissions RGGI will eliminate, and, also, RGGI’s cost. Of course, neither RGGI fans among Maine legislators nor the governor are willing to be held accountable to measurable environmental results. They killed Reisman’s idea.
Reisman hopes Mainers will still hold accountable politicians/elite enviros responsible for RGGI. Me, too. Remember that next winter when you’re chipping ice dams in subzero Maine weather, paying higher electric rates, to fight global warming.
Scott K Fish is owner/editor of www.asmainegoes.com.
Sean Faircloth
Greenhouse gas reduction is one of the most important issues of all time, yet we have no leadership from the White House. Luckily, Maine has legislators such as State Rep. Ted Koffman and State Sen. Phil Bartlett, who have demonstrated national vision and skill with regard to this important issue.In 2007, Koffman and Bartlett worked with a team of legislators to limit greenhouse gas emissions from our state’s power plants by having Maine join a 10-state agreement. This is designed to reduce pollution from power plants by 10% by the year 2018. The bill, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), was signed by the governor in June 2007.
Besides directly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, power plants may either offset emissions by buying an offset allowance for up to 3% of their emissions, or by engaging in countervailing measures such as capturing methane or planting trees.
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The fact is power plants are not going to reduce carbon emissions unless they have an incentive to do so. RGGI requires the power plants in the 10 participating states to collectively clean up their acts—while giving them the leeway to meet the requirements that make the most economic sense for their businesses.
Here’s how it works: 10 northeastern states are participating in RGGI, which will create a regional market in which emission allowances are bought and sold like a commodity. Plants that emit fewer emissions than mandated are given “credits” they can sell to other plants that are not yet in compliance. Each state must also sell or auction a minimum of 25% of its allowances and use proceeds to benefit consumers with efforts such as ratepayer rebates, energy efficiency, and clean technologies. Not only are emissions reduced, but new power production methods are funded by those who are dragging their heels in improving their technology.
This plan was not created in a vacuum. Koffman and Bartlett met early with the power industry participants, and environmental experts also attended these collaborative meetings. The result in the Maine Legislature was an overwhelming bipartisan vote in support of RGGI, a vote for better business practices, for a cleaner environment, a more efficient state, green technology, and a better future for our children. Most Republicans joined the majority—with only seven Maine House Republicans voting no.
Leaders in the House, including Majority Leader Hannah Pingree and Speaker Glenn Cummings helped form a consensus approach on the vital issue of global warming. They also helped cool some very hot air billowing from extremists such as Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh who spread false information aimed at delaying society’s transition to cleaner energy. Fortunately, the Maine Legislature did the right thing for the future of Maine people and our environment.
It’s my guess that Representative Koffman will be a leader on environmental and natural resources issues for years to come, and that, sooner or later, Senator Bartlett will serve Maine in federal or statewide office. These leaders are just two examples of Maine legislators of such high caliber that they could match the best that any other state legislature has to offer.
Sean Faircloth is serving his third consecutive term representing Bangor in the Maine House. He serves as House Majority Whip.
----
Scott K Fish
2008. The world’s coldest winter in seven years. Caribou, Maine, has record snowfall. North America? The most snow cover since 1958. China—the country—has its coldest winter in 100 years. Baghdad, Iraq, sees its first snow in recorded history. Record cold temperatures hit Mexico, Australia, Iran, Greece, South Africa, Greenland, Argentina, Chile. The four major global temperature tracking outlets’ data show a yearlong drop in world temperatures, wiping out 100 years of warming.Meanwhile, the Baldacci administration has Maine on track, starting in 2009, to allegedly fight global warming through the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). (Pronounced like “veggie” with an “R”.) Huh?
Starting in 2009, Maine and the other RGGI state governments will determine one acceptable level of so-called greenhouse gas emissions from their electric generating businesses for the whole 10-state region. Each participating state then gets a part of the accepted total emissions to use in negotiating with its electricity producers. Maine’s targets are: Florida Power and Light (Falmouth), Calpine (Westbrook), Rumford Power (Rumford), Verso Paper (Androscoggin and Bucksport).
Maine’s electricity-generating businesses will be required to buy from Maine government permission to emit greenhouse gas emissions sufficient to operate their businesses. If they exceed government’s limits, the businesses will be fined. Maine government will use the permission/fine money to pursue alternative energy projects, i.e., capturing methane from cow manure.
Professor Jon Reisman mentions RGGI in “Drinking the Green Kool-Aid” in Bangor Metro’s “Green Issue” in March 2008: RGGI “will . . . raise [Maine] energy prices, yet will avert essentially no global warming.”
RGGI skepticism cuts across political sides—“democrat” (small “d”) is the pen name of a five-and-a-half-year contributor to AsMaineGoes.com who works in public relations for Maine Democrat politicians. He first warned us about RGGI on January 18, 2007, writing, “RGGI [is] going to cost you big time. I was listening to a discussion with our DEP commissioner . . . today about RGGI . . . It’s a ‘memorandum of understanding’ signed by Maine and . . . other . . . states that . . . charge[s] a tax on greenhouse gases by establishing a cap-and-trade program [on] electric generators. [T]his could increase electric supply costs by 10% for Maine consumers. [RGGI] will increase the cost to our businesses . . . already having a tough time competing with [other states]. Of course, reducing Maine’s share (1%) of these gases will make a BIG difference—right?”
Reisman tried to have enacted a RGGI cost/benefit analysis law. Reisman’s law would have allowed the Baldacci administration to go forward with RGGI, but Baldacci would also have to tell Maine taxpayers how much greenhouse gas emissions RGGI will eliminate, and, also, RGGI’s cost. Of course, neither RGGI fans among Maine legislators nor the governor are willing to be held accountable to measurable environmental results. They killed Reisman’s idea.
Reisman hopes Mainers will still hold accountable politicians/elite enviros responsible for RGGI. Me, too. Remember that next winter when you’re chipping ice dams in subzero Maine weather, paying higher electric rates, to fight global warming.
Scott K Fish is owner/editor of www.asmainegoes.com.
