On December 20, 2005, the governors of seven Northeastern states announced the creation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to implement the first mandatory U.S. cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide. RGGI is a cooperative effort among ten states – also including Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island– to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI sets a cap on emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants, and allows sources to trade emissions allowances. The program will begin by capping emissions at current levels in 2009, and then reducing emissions 10% by 2019.
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change provides a comprehensive list of actions taken at the state and regional level to address greenhouse gas reduction. The following list includes some of the US states that have set greenhouse gas reduction targets within the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative:
- Connecticut – 10% GHG reduction below 1990 levels by 2020; 80% below 2001 levels by 2050 (HB 5600, 2008)
- Maine – GHG reduction to 1990 levels by 2010; 10% GHG reduction below 1990 levels by 2020; 75-85% below 2001 levels in the “long term” (Act to Provide Leadership in Addressing the Threat of Climate Change, 2003)
- Maryland – 25% GHG reduction below 2006 levels by 2020; 80% below 2006 levels by 2050 (SB 278, 2009)
- Massachusetts – 10%-25% GHG reduction below 1990 levels by 2020; 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 (S.2540, 2008)
- New Hampshire – GHG reduction to 1990 levels by 2010; 10% GHG reduction below 1990 levels by 2020; 75-85% below 2001 levels in the “long term” (The New England Governors’ Climate Change Action Plan, 2001)
- New Jersey – GHG reduction to 1990 levels by 2020; 80% GHG reduction below 2006 levels by 2050 (A3301, 2007)
- New York — 5% GHG reduction below 1990 levels by 2010; 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 (State Energy Plan, 2002)
- Rhode Island – GHG reduction to 1990 levels by 2010; 10% GHG reduction below 1990 levels by 2020; 75-85% below 2001 levels in the “long term” (The New England Governors’ Climate Change Action Plan, 2001)
- Vermont – 25% GHG reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; 50% by 2028; and (if practical) 75% by 2050 (Executive Order 07-05, 2005; S.259 [Act 168], 2006)