As the new home of MASSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Massachusetts can be contacted regarding this news release.
Environment Committee Chairs Propose Overriding Romney’s Decision
BOSTON—Massachusetts
legislators from the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and
Agriculture will hear testimony today on a bill that would have the
state join a pact negotiated by northeast governors this winter to
reduce global warming pollution from power plants in the region. Gov.
Mitt Romney and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey had rejected the agreement in the
days before it was signed last December.
The
so-called Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, would use a
market-based cap-and-trade system to cap emissions in 2009 and require
reductions starting in 2015. Along with seven governors who have
committed to adopting the program – from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware – the Maryland
legislature passed a bill on March 31st that will force the state to
sign onto the pact.
“RGGI
is a moderate plan to begin addressing global warming pollution, and we
should follow Maryland’s example and join it,” said Marc Breslow of the
Mass. Climate Action Network. “It’s outrageous that Gov. Romney and Lt.
Gov. Healey have left us sitting on the sidelines, and we’re glad that
Representative Smizik and Senator Resor are trying to get us back out
on the field with this bill.”
In
addition to rejecting the regional pact, Gov. Romney and Lt. Gov.
Healey have directed their Department of Environmental Protection
weaken language state rules passed in 2001 and designed to cap global
warming pollution from the oldest, dirtiest plants in the state, the
so-called “Filthy Five.” Their proposed changes would make it easier
for plant owners to avoid cleaning up local pollution sources by
instead paying for pollution “offsets” from around the globe, or by
paying into a state fund rather than actually cutting emissions.
“Gov.
Romney’s flip-flop on RGGI and the Filthy Five represent horrendously
bad decisions about the critical issue of global warming,” said Seth
Kaplan of the Conservation Law Foundation. “Clearly our legislative
leadership understands this and is determined to put Massachusetts on a
course to rejoin RGGI.”
Under
the regional agreement, each state will require electricity generators
to pay for at least 25% of their pollution permits, with some states
leaning toward charging for the entire 100% of their emissions. The
money would be used for energy efficiency measures or consumer rebates
to lower overall energy bills. The legislation filed today would
mandate that Massachusetts charge for at least 50%. While a step in the
right direction, the proposed level is insufficient to fully fund the
efficiency programs needed for consumers to see their energy use and
bills fall under this program.
“Power
plants have no inherent right to pollute, so there’s no reason for them
to get these permits for free,” said Frank Gorke of MASSPIRG. “The
states’ own analysis found that doubling spending on efficiency would
save the average household more than $100 a year on their electric
bills. That’s the best way to maximize pollution reductions and
minimize costs.”
Support
for joining the pact has come from all sectors. Leading companies
operating in the region – including Bank of America, Staples, and
Keyspan – all support RGGI. National Grid and the large association of
energy users called The Energy Consortium have called for 100% of
emissions permits to be sold to generators. Faith, consumer, and
environmental groups have also weighed in supporting the pact. All
members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation sent a letter to
Gov. Romney last December urging him to sign onto RGGI. Finally,
gubernatorial candidates Deval Patrick and Attorney General Tom Reilly
have said they would join the pact if elected, while Kerry Healey, who
originally supported Gov. Romney’s decision to abandon the pact, has
since remained quiet on the issue.
“Time
Magazine says we need to be afraid,” said Cindy Luppi of Clean Water
Action. “Instead, we are looking for our leaders to be resolute and
mobilize our resources to address this crisis. By joining RGGI, the
Legislature can bypass failed climate leadership at the state and
federal levels, while also showing businesses and investors that
Massachusetts wants to be the center of developing and deploying clean
energy technology.”
“The
governors of the participating Northeastern states are sending a strong
signal to other states and other nations that Americans are ready to
implement innovative solutions to meet the challenge posed by global
warming,” said Kathleen Rest, Executive Director of the Union of
Concerned Scientists. “In the face of the Bush administration’s adamant
refusal to cut heat-trapping pollution, this is a bold act of
bipartisan leadership that Massachusetts should be a part of.”
Additional Contacts
Seth Kaplan, Conservation Law Foundation, 617.850.1721
Marc Breslow, Mass. Climate Action Network, 781.643.5911 or 617.426.1228 x105
Brian Thurber, Clean Water Action, 617.338.8131 x209
Katherine Rest, Union of Concerned Scientists, 617.547.5552
