With hot summer days and rising sea levels, Maine’s coastlines are threatened by global warming.
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Last year, Gov. Baldacci signed a historic agreement with six other Northeast governors to tackle regional power plant pollution. Since then, four other states have signed on and other states are considering joining as well. This regional program, called RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative), would reduce global warming pollution from regional power plants 10 percent by 2019.
It would be the first program of its kind in the United States to use a market-based, cap-and-trade approach to reduce carbon dioxide (the most prevalent greenhouse gas) and would allow flexibility for large power plants. Even so, the industry is looking to scuttle or weaken the program.
All the while, these power plants continue to produce smog and mercury pollution that contaminate our state. Environment Maine is calling on legislators to approve the program so that the state and region can get to work to cut global warming pollution from power plants.
Environment Maine supports selling one hundred percent of allowances, or pollution credits from power plants, to invest in energy efficiency. Investing in energy efficiency will lower electricity rates for all customers by reducing electricity demand.
Maine’s action, in coordination with the other Northeast states, will also help force the hand of the federal government in taking action on global warming. Scientists agree that now is the time to take action to slow and reverse global warming.
Congress gets serious about global warming
Momentum is building around two bills: the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act in the Senate and the Safe Climate Act in the House. Both are more ambitious than any previous federal proposal on the issue. By the year 2050, the bills would reduce carbon emissions nationwide to a level that’s 80 percent lower than the levels that existed in 1990—a benchmark that scientific experts consider necessary if we’re to stop short of a dangerous tipping point on climate change.
As of late March, the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act had 12 cosponsors and the Safe Climate Act had 128, including Reps. Tom Allen and Michael Michaud—a testament to the leadership of chief sponsors Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Henry Waxman, both of California, as well as the efforts of our staff and members and that of our many allies.
In addition, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has established a special committee on clean energy and global warming.
As you might guess, the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, the Safe Climate Act, as well as any proposals that might emerge from the special committee, face many political hurdles— not the least of which is the Bush-Cheney White House, which still offers tepid support, at best, for any step beyond “more research” or “voluntary measures” on global warming.
Still, the outlook for serious action on global warming is better than ever in Washington. Environment Maine will continue to build on our successes in Maine to keep the pressure on Congress to take action on the national level. |
