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Global Warming Solutions News
For Immediate Release:
2005-8-31
For More Information:
Contact Ben Wright (617) 747-4313 Environmentalists Call On Governors To Strengthen Carbon Cap With Efficiency Measures
As the new home of MASSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Massachusetts can be contacted regarding this news release. BOSTON—With the governors of nine northeastern states negotiating new rules that would limit global warming pollution from power plants, environmentalists today called for an expanded role for energy efficiency measures that they say would achieve deeper pollution reductions for less money. “Governor Romney can’t miss the efficiency opportunity here,” said Frank Gorke, Energy Advocate for the MASSPIRG Education Fund. “He can get deeper pollution reductions at lower costs to the region if he embraces more aggressive energy efficiency measures.” The group delivered a letter to Romney’s office, along with a report on the benefits of using efficiency measures to address global warming, in response to a document released by the region’s governors last week summarizing preliminary plans to control the pollution that causes global warming. “The draft plan that has been released to stakeholders in the region misses a crucial opportunity to more concretely promote energy efficiency,” said the letter. “Efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to start solving global warming—and a host of other energy problems facing our state.” Staff for the region’s governors are continuing to negotiate key details of the policy, which could result in significant pollution reductions from the region’s power plants. “It would be a mistake to create a carbon cap that doesn’t have explicit and strong policy support for energy efficiency,” said Cindy Luppi, Organizing Director for Clean Water Fund. “There are steps we can take today, like expanding dedicated efficiency programs and improving building codes, that will cut global warming pollution and lower bills. But that won’t happen unless the governors lead the way.” Power plants are the second biggest source of global warming pollution in Massachusetts, behind only cars and trucks. The governors’ proposal would create a regional cap limiting the amount of global warming pollution that power companies could emit, and a market mechanism that would enable trading of pollution “allowances” among plant owners. “If this program is done right instead of creating a windfall for power plant owners it can create immediate and tangible benefit for all electricity consumers beyond the climate protection and cleaner air that will be the primary mission of this effort,” said Seth Kaplan, the Director of the Conservation Law Foundation’s Clean Energy and Climate Change Program. “Reducing electricity bills while protecting the environment is a win for everyone.” "If generators were required to pay for their pollution allowances, and the money was spent on efficiency programs, we could eliminate the expected 23% increase in electricity demand between now and 2020, and offset the projected rate increase from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative," said Marc Breslow, Director of the Mass. Climate Action Network. Additional Contacts
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