Environmentalists Push Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

In an effort to convince opposing state representatives of the merits of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), volunteers from Environment New Jersey delivered thousands of letters in support for the program to the office of State Sen. Jennifer Beck's (R-11) office in Red Bank recently, as well as the offices of two state senators based in Ocean County.

RGGI is a 10-state cooperative program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants by implementing a cap-and-trade system. The program was vetoed less than a year ago by Gov. Chris Christie at the behest of lobbyists who have claimed that RGGI puts an undue financial burden on energy providers and negatively impacts New Jersey businesses.

Beck, along with many of her Republican counterparts, are also opposed to RGGI.

"These signatures show that New Jerseyans want to cut power plant pollution, invest in clean energy, and stay in RGGI," Environmental New Jersey field organizer Dan DeRosa said in a statement released following the letter drop off. "Gov. Christie is sending us down a dangerous path towards dirtier air, dirtier energy and runaway global warming pollution, and it’s time for the Legislature to stop him."

In all, Environmental New Jersey claimed that 4,000 letters, emails and phone calls were delivered to offices of Senator Beck, and James Holzapfel, R-10, and Robert Singer, R-30, both of Ocean.

According to NJ Spotlight, the regional initiative was first launched in 2005 and requires power plants to pay a surcharge on greenhouse gas emissions. Those surcharges are passed on to ratepayers in the form of funding for alternative energy and energy efficiency projects that save customers money by reducing power consumption, the article states. Advocates of the program also claim that RGGI "creates jobs, saves money and creates economic benefit for the state."

Environment New Jersey, a state-based, citizen-funded environmental advocacy group, says RGGI has brought in $181 million in revenue and created 1,772 jobs in this state alone.

Though Christie has said the program is inefficient and fails to live up to its promises, the Senate Environment and Energy Committee voted unanimously to develop a bill that would force the state to participate in RGGI, NJ Spolight reports. The state legislature is now considering the bill.

"It’s now clear, from independent studies, that RGGI is growing the economy, creating jobs, reducing electric bills, and clearing our air,” DeRosa said. “Given the facts, it’s no wonder why thousands of New Jerseyans have spoken up to urge local legislators to support this program and stand up for our health and our clean energy future.”