PRESS RELEASE

EARTHJUSTICE *  ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES OF NEW YORK *  PACE ENERGY & CLIMATE CENTER * NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL * NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP * THE COMMONS * THE NATURE CONSERVANCY NEW YORK

March 6, 2009

ENVIRONMENTAL & ENERGY GROUPS CALL ON NY GOVERNOR TO CHANGE COURSE & PROTECT NATION’S 1^ST PLAN TO CUT GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION 

(ALBANY, NY)—Environmental and energy groups from across New York State are calling on Governor David Paterson today to back away from promises he made to power producers to rewrite the state’s role in nation’s first plan to cut global warming pollution, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). According to a story published in today’s New York Times, the Governor made a deal with the Independent Power Producers of New York (IPPNY) last fall to re-open the regulations after the group failed to pressure the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to weaken the RGGI rules. Governor Paterson should maintain the state's commitment to auctioning nearly 100 percent of New York's allocation of RGGI allowances. 
 

The RGGI is the nation’s first enforceable plan to cap and trade global warming emissions from power plants. The initiative is a critical piece of the Northeast’s overall strategy to address climate change, which includes energy conservation and generating a greater portion of energy from clean, renewable sources. Late last year, New York cleared the way to participate in a December auction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) pollution permits. The RGGI regulatory framework will hold CO₂ emissions constant through 2014, and then gradually reduce those levels.

-30-