Emissions cap and trade proposal moves forward (Printed May 11, 2007)
By Colleen Marshall
Staff writer
Combating global warming on a national level and Maine’s role in becoming a more energy efficient state was the subject of a recent climate change forum, hosted by Sen. Phil Bartlett.
Bartlett (D-Gorham, Scarborough, Westbrook) spoke to 20 people at Scarborough Town Hall, presenting an overview of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) bill, which seeks to limit CO2 emissions in Maine. Bartlett sponsors the bill, along with District 35 Rep. Ted Koffman.
“We can start to make a real difference in every community, in every state,” Bartlett said. “We can help to tackle this problem.”
During his 30-minute PowerPoint presentation, Bartlett said when he first began working on an energy policy plan two years ago – it was a battle to be heard within the Legislature. However, thanks to former Vice President Al Gore’s popular documentary on global warming “An Inconvenient Truth” and an overall increase in awareness, dramatic changes have been seen in the debate.
“This is something that is a concern for both sides of the aisle,” Bartlett said.
The RGGI bill has three main goals – to lower the cost of energy to Maine consumers, reduce the volatility of energy prices, and minimize the impact of energy production on the environment. Bartlett said the plan is slated to be a cooperative initiative between 10 northeastern states with a mission to reduce “global warming pollution” from large power plants.
Other states participating in the RGGI plan are New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Maryland.
The RGGI bill is slated to use a cap and trade system, which would set an emissions cap for power plants, but would allow companies to trade carbon credits to enable them to meet their emission requirements. Bartlett said the free market system provides flexibility to companies to reduce emissions in a cost-effective manner, while providing an incentive to efficient plants to sell their credits to other companies. Permits would cost between $3 and $7. Proceeds from the sale of the credits would be put in a trust, and used for energy efficiency efforts in order to reduce energy costs for consumers.
He said the cap and trade system is expected to reduce the pollution by 10 percent below current levels by 2019.
“If we did nothing, it would increase by 20 percent, so by reducing the levels by 10 percent, what we are doing is reducing it by a total of 30 percent,” he said. “So it’s a pretty significant improvement.”
Members of the Utilities and Energy Committee, where Bartlett serves as chairman, unanimously endorsed the bill during an April 27 vote.
On May 1 the Natural Resources and Utilities and Energy committees in a rare joint meeting, voted a combined 12-9 in favor of a slightly amended version of L.D. 1851, the bill that would allow Maine to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Modest amendments were made during committee work sessions. The final amended version of the bill added more specific deadlines and dates for implementation.
The Natural Resources Committee registered a vote of 8-5 in support of the amended version. The Utilities Committee voted 5-4, with two members missing. Bartlett and Senator Doug Smith, (R-Piscataquis) sit on both committees, so their votes were only registered once, as members of the Natural Resources Committee. The votes were mostly down party lines, with Democrats supporting the bill with the amendment and Republicans opposing it.
The RGGI bill will now go to the entire Legislature for consideration.
Bartlett said he has been speaking at various groups throughout the state about the RGGI bill, as well as overall ways to help residents become more energy efficient in their homes and businesses.
“The only way we are going to solve the problem is if everyone gets involved, steps up and works to improve the situation,” Bartlett said.
Following his presentation, the senator fielded questions for a half hour, with topics ranging from oil heating in homes to the effectiveness of energy efficient lightbulbs. He commended two Scarborough High School students who questioned what they could do as members of a younger generation.
“There are a number of things you can do,” he said. “Contact your Legislators and let them know how important these issues are. Write letters to the editor, and work with your administrators to put a plan into place,” he said.
Staff writer
Combating global warming on a national level and Maine’s role in becoming a more energy efficient state was the subject of a recent climate change forum, hosted by Sen. Phil Bartlett.
Bartlett (D-Gorham, Scarborough, Westbrook) spoke to 20 people at Scarborough Town Hall, presenting an overview of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) bill, which seeks to limit CO2 emissions in Maine. Bartlett sponsors the bill, along with District 35 Rep. Ted Koffman.
“We can start to make a real difference in every community, in every state,” Bartlett said. “We can help to tackle this problem.”
During his 30-minute PowerPoint presentation, Bartlett said when he first began working on an energy policy plan two years ago – it was a battle to be heard within the Legislature. However, thanks to former Vice President Al Gore’s popular documentary on global warming “An Inconvenient Truth” and an overall increase in awareness, dramatic changes have been seen in the debate.
“This is something that is a concern for both sides of the aisle,” Bartlett said.
The RGGI bill has three main goals – to lower the cost of energy to Maine consumers, reduce the volatility of energy prices, and minimize the impact of energy production on the environment. Bartlett said the plan is slated to be a cooperative initiative between 10 northeastern states with a mission to reduce “global warming pollution” from large power plants.
Other states participating in the RGGI plan are New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Maryland.
The RGGI bill is slated to use a cap and trade system, which would set an emissions cap for power plants, but would allow companies to trade carbon credits to enable them to meet their emission requirements. Bartlett said the free market system provides flexibility to companies to reduce emissions in a cost-effective manner, while providing an incentive to efficient plants to sell their credits to other companies. Permits would cost between $3 and $7. Proceeds from the sale of the credits would be put in a trust, and used for energy efficiency efforts in order to reduce energy costs for consumers.
He said the cap and trade system is expected to reduce the pollution by 10 percent below current levels by 2019.
“If we did nothing, it would increase by 20 percent, so by reducing the levels by 10 percent, what we are doing is reducing it by a total of 30 percent,” he said. “So it’s a pretty significant improvement.”
Members of the Utilities and Energy Committee, where Bartlett serves as chairman, unanimously endorsed the bill during an April 27 vote.
On May 1 the Natural Resources and Utilities and Energy committees in a rare joint meeting, voted a combined 12-9 in favor of a slightly amended version of L.D. 1851, the bill that would allow Maine to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Modest amendments were made during committee work sessions. The final amended version of the bill added more specific deadlines and dates for implementation.
The Natural Resources Committee registered a vote of 8-5 in support of the amended version. The Utilities Committee voted 5-4, with two members missing. Bartlett and Senator Doug Smith, (R-Piscataquis) sit on both committees, so their votes were only registered once, as members of the Natural Resources Committee. The votes were mostly down party lines, with Democrats supporting the bill with the amendment and Republicans opposing it.
The RGGI bill will now go to the entire Legislature for consideration.
Bartlett said he has been speaking at various groups throughout the state about the RGGI bill, as well as overall ways to help residents become more energy efficient in their homes and businesses.
“The only way we are going to solve the problem is if everyone gets involved, steps up and works to improve the situation,” Bartlett said.
Following his presentation, the senator fielded questions for a half hour, with topics ranging from oil heating in homes to the effectiveness of energy efficient lightbulbs. He commended two Scarborough High School students who questioned what they could do as members of a younger generation.
“There are a number of things you can do,” he said. “Contact your Legislators and let them know how important these issues are. Write letters to the editor, and work with your administrators to put a plan into place,” he said.
Comments