New York Nature Conservancy Praises Progress Towards Implementing Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Seven State Pact Moves Closer to Becoming a Reality

New York, NY—August 18, 2006—The Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a pioneering effort by eight Northeast governors to cut heat-trapping pollution, is one step closer to becoming a reality today as the states released a regulatory template known as the model rule. The rule, which will serve to guide the states in their implementation efforts, is being met with applause from the environmental and business communities who championed the program.

“The leadership demonstrated by the Pataki Administration on this issue is beginning to pay off,” said David Higby of the Nature Conservancy New York “as an unprecedented coalition of states is moving forward with a strong rule that will guarantee that we collectively reduce pollution. This program shows that we can cut emissions while driving investment into energy efficiency and clean energy technologies that attract cutting edge industries and new jobs to the region.”

The rule requires power plants to reduce pollution in the region to ten percent below current levels by 2019.

The program, which was adopted by the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine late last year, features the nation’s first cap-and-trade program for global warming pollution. Maryland adopted legislation in March requiring the state to join the program.

“The program is the first of its kind in the nation, and gives the states a competitive head start in adopting the cleaner, more efficient technologies needed to combat the problem of global warming,” according to Higby. “It also enables states to incorporate innovative measures to protect consumers, who could benefit from less pollution and lower energy bills.”

The Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a ground-breaking first step towards addressing global warming emissions from the electricity sector. Developed nations need to reduce emissions approximately 80% by 2050 in order to stabilize the climate and avert the worst impacts of global warming.

Before the program takes effect in 2009, each state must issue regulations adopting the regional model rule. As the regional agreement left many important issues to the states, advocates will continue to work to ensure that the RGGI meets its modest pollution reduction goals.