States In Northeast Cap And Trade Program Reduce CO2 20% Faster And Grow GDP At Twice The Rate of Other States

Just in time for Earth Day, Think Progress posted an article on Friday that gives credence Cap and Trade. Not only does the capping of carbon emissions and trading the credits work to reduce carbon polution, it has created $1.6 billion in real economic value and has not driven up electrical rates paid by consumers here in the Northeast.
Cap and Trade has also stimulated the investments in efficiency and renewable energy, which has lead to $1.1 billion savings for ratepayers.

Northeastern states participating in America’s first carbon cap and trade program have outperformed the rest of the country in GDP growth and reduction in global warming pollution.

That’s according to a new report from Environment New Jersey, which examined emissions data and economic growth indicators from 2000 to 2009.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a nine-state cap-and-trade market designed to reduce emissions in the utility sector 10% by 2018. A recent independent analysis showed that the program has already created $1.6 billion in economic value and set the stage for $1.1 billion in ratepayer savings through investments in efficiency and renewable energy. 

This latest report shows that states under the RGGI program saw a 20% greater reduction in per-capita carbon emissions than non-RGGI states — all while growing per-capita GDP at double the rate of the rest of the country....

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Monday 3/5/12: Community Briefing with Environment New Jersey on Clean Air and Clean Energy in New Jersey

Environment New Jersey is holding a community briefing to educate residents on the benefits of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and what you can do to convince your elected officials to stop Governor Christie's attacks on this clean air program, tomorrow March 5th, 7:00 PM at Starbucks, 4 White St., Red Bank.

Your local legislators will soon cast a key vote that will determine whether New Jersey sticks with the program. Join us on Monday in asking them to stand up to Governor Christie on this issue, and stand with the people of New Jersey for cleaner air and clean energy.

You can also sign our online petition on this issue at: http://www.norollback.org to support on this issue. We need to continue this important program if we hope to clean our air, promote clean energy, and help fight climate change.

 Quick Facts:

RGGI caps power plant pollution and makes polluters pay for their emissions.
RGGI funds clean energy programs, including solar arrays and efficient buildings that grow the economy. RGGI is our only tool to directly control global warming and pollution from power plants.

Please RSVP or request more info: dderosa@environmentnewjersey.org