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RGGI: The New Jersey pollution debate that refuses to die

The multi-state energy compact with the friendly sounding name of RGGI (pronounced Reggie) has morphed into a decidedly unfriendly tug of war between New Jersey Democrats and Republicans that goes on and on and on.

Under the Democratic administration of former Gov. Jon Corzine, RGGI was hailed as an innovative way to cut carbon emissions from energy plants and simultaneously generate money to support a variety of alternative energy investments and energy conservation projects.

Under the Republican administration of Gov.Chris Christie, RGGI was re-cast as a villain out to jack up energy costs, mug big industrial power users, and not accomplishment much for the environment in the process.

NJ Spotlight‘s Tom Johnson, who has been chronicling every RGGI push and pull, brings us up to date on NJDEP’s reaction to the Legislature’s latest attempt to get RGGI back in the game.

DEP says ‘no way’ to rejoining RGGI; Dispute may head to court–again


RGGI: The New Jersey pollution debate that refuses to die Read More »

Christie won't budge on RGGI – A lawmaker responds


       New Jersey Governor Chris Christie    Matt Rainey/Getty Images

Despite growing calls for action on climate change, dramatically displayed Sunday in the giant march in Manhattan, Governor Chris Christie insists that he will not allow New Jersey to return to the regional greenhouse gas compact, RGGI.

The New York Times reports:

"As Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey explores a 2016 presidential campaign, he is under growing pressure from his State Legislature to rejoin a regional cap-and-trade program that would limit New Jersey’s carbon emissions — and likely hurt his chances for the Republican nomination.

"Mr. Christie, who withdrew from the program in 2011 as he first considered running for president in 2012, remains adamant that New Jersey not participate in the nine-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, even though the majority of state legislators say it would be in New Jersey’s economic and legal interests. Business groups remain divided on the plan. “No, I would not think of rejoining it,” Mr. Christie told reporters during a recent trip to Mexico. “I think it’s a completely useless plan.”

NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney has introduced a bill to force the state’s return to RGGI. An identical bill in the Assembly is sponsored by Assemblyman John McKeon.

EnviroPolitics caught up with McKeon yesterday following the Assembly Environment and Natural Resources Committee and asked for his comments which you’ll hear in the video below.


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We are interested in what you think about RGGI. Should New Jersey rejoin? Is it a worthless program? Is it too costly to business? Or would it spur new clean-energy employment? Let us know in the comment section below and consider sharing this post with your friends. 

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Christie won't budge on RGGI – A lawmaker responds Read More »

Enviros claim NJ lost out on millions by exiting RGGI

                                                                                             Watchdog.org graphic
New Jersey could have reaped $114 million for clean energy projects had Governor Christie not yanked the state almost three years ago from a multi-state program designed to reduce greenhouse gases, claims a report released by an environmental advocacy group today.

Scott Fallon writes in The Record:

“The report comes as the Christie administration is finalizing its formal withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, known as RGGI, after environmental groups had lobbied intensely this summer for the governor to reconsider.

“We wanted to put some more firm numbers on what New Jersey is losing out on if it is not part of this program,” said Doug O’Malley of Environment New Jersey, which released the report in conjunction with Environment Northeast. “This is the real-world cost of leaving RGGI.”

Fallon quotes Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Christie, saying that RGGI “amounted to nothing more than a tax on business” and “failed to achieve its goals of lowering the use of carbon emissions and creating green jobs.”

“RGGI was formed more than a decade ago by 10 Eastern states to curb the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from power companies. The gas works like a blanket to trap heat in the atmosphere, which increases air and ocean temperatures, melts polar ice, raises sea levels and produces more intense storms. Sea levels have risen along the New Jersey coast about a foot and a half over the past century and are expected to rise another foot by 2050.

“Under RGGI, power companies must buy credits for every ton of carbon their plants emit while generating electricity. RGGI has raised $1.8 billion for the states, including $113 million for New Jersey before Christie pulled out.

“In its report, Environment Northeast says New Jersey is projected to forgo an additional $387 million from now until 2020 if it does not rejoin RGGI.

The report touted several clean energy projects that New Jersey’s RGGI money helped fund, including a solar panel system at William Paterson University that was said to be the largest ever built at an institute of higher learning. It also said that Christie diverted $75 million of RGGI revenue slated for clean energy projects to balance the state budget in 2010.

SCR-125, a resolution that challenges the legitimacy of the state’s withdrawal from RGGI will be heard in Trenton on Monday at 10 a.m. in the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. The committee will meet in Room 10, Third Floor, State Houses Annex.



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In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more


James Marvin Phelps photo

“Once there was a silly old ram

Thought he’d punch a hole in a dam 

No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin that dam”

   – Frank Sinatra’s ‘High Hopes’ 
For what seems like the umpteenth time, Democratic legislators in New Jersey will try again on Thursday to butt a hole in Republican Governor Chris Christie’s veto of legislation requiring New Jersey to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

In May 2011, Christie unilaterally yanked the state from the 10-state compact that aims to reduce global warming greenhouse gases by placing a carbon tax on power plant emissions.

Christie declared the program to be ineffective and said it penalized businesses and other energy customers in New Jersey who already pay some of the highest energy rates in the country. 


Environmentalists kicked up their heels, claiming Christie was kowtowing to right-wing, fossil fuel interests that control which Republican candidate gets campaign funding support in future presidential campaigns.

But, as NJ Spotlight‘s Tom Johnson explains today, “legislative efforts to force New Jersey back into the program have proved fruitless, with Christie twice vetoing bills to that end.” 

Democrats hold a majority in both houses and could pass the legislation again.

Will a third time prove the charm?

Not unless you believe the one about the Ant and the Rubber Tree Plant.

The governor has never gone back on a veto and his Republican colleagues in the legislature are unlikely to offer their political opponents the necessary votes for an override.    


But you’ve got to give the enviros credit for trying.  Cue High Hopes, Mister DJ. 



In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more Read More »

NJ enviros get their day in court over RGGI withdrawal


New Jersey Superior Court’s Appellate Division will hear arguments tomorrow morning in Trenton on whether
the Christie Administration illegally repealed the rules implementing the
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a pioneering regional agreement to
limit carbon pollution from power plants. 

The
program was developed by New Jersey and nine other northeastern states in 2005
and first implemented in 2009. In May 2011, Gov. Christie unilaterally
withdrew New Jersey from the program–the only state to leave the regional
collaboration. 


Environment New Jersey and the Natural Resources Defense Council filed the lawsuit 20 months ago, claiming that the Christie Administration never gave the public an official
opportunity to voice their opinion on the repeal of the rules implementing the
landmark program.
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The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, is a cap-and-trade program adopted by nine Eastern states in which power companies must purchase credits through public auctions for every ton of carbon their plants emit while generating electricity. Revenue from the sale of credits goes to the states to invest in renewable energy programs. 

The January 8 hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the 5th Floor Appellate
Court Chambers of the Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton.
Related environmental news story:
Can climate hawks beat Chris Christie to let New Jersey rejoin RGGI?

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NJ enviros get their day in court over RGGI withdrawal Read More »

RGGI sees fewer bidders but still raising tens of millions

RGGI, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative that Gov. Chris Christie pulled New Jersey out of last year, drew the lowest number of bidders in the program’s history last week during it’s 17th auction.

[See: RGGI’s Sweet 17th: Cumulative Proceeds Top A Billion Dollars by attorney Amy Boyd]

Those who support the governor’s decision (mostly fellow Republicans, businesses with large electricity bills, and Tea Party members who want less government involvement in almost everything) will point to this as evidence that the nine-member compact is running out of (pardon the pun) gas.

RGGI supporters (mostly Democrats and environmentalists) will point to the fact that, despite lower participation, the auction still raised a not-too-shabby $47.4 million that will be used by  participating states (including New York and Delaware) for energy efficiency and  renewable energy programs.

Who’s right?  Let us know what you think in the opinion box below. If one is not visible, activate it by clicking on the tiny ‘comments’ link.

Related RGGI stories:
RGGI Redux: Christie’s latest smackdown; Enviros livid
Enviros pushing lawmakers to get NJ back into RGGI

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RGGI sees fewer bidders but still raising tens of millions Read More »

RGGI Redux: Christie’s latest smackdown; Enviros livid

Graphic credit: Grist

For the second straight year, Gov. Chris Christie has rejected an attempt by Democrats in the state Legislature to return New Jersey to RGGI (“Reggie”).

Christie yesterday vetoed S-1322 which would have overturned his May 2011 decision to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a 10-state cooperative that channels the receipts of a carbon tax on power plants into energy-efficiency and energy-saving projects. RGGI advocates say the program not only benefits the environment and creates green jobs.

The legislation was virtually identical to a bill that Christie vetoed last August. The Democrats did not have the votes to override that veto, so they passed the new bill which he, predictably, has again spiked.

Although expected, environmental organizations reacted to the environmental news with fresh outrage.

“We’re extremely
disappointed that, despite unprecedented public support from average New Jerseyans
who care about clean air, Gov. Christie chose to side with a small, extreme
wing of the Tea Party that is funded by out of state fossil fuel interests,said Environment New Jersey‘s Matt Elliott.

“Numerous independent studies have shown that RGGI delivers
benefits to the economy and the environment, creating a win-win for every
resident of our state.  The governor’s veto today moves us backward on
economic growth and environmental protection with one swoop of his pen.”

A NJ Sierra Club statement also picked up the catering-to-the-right-wing theme.

“The Governor’s veto
today shows his continued commitment to the Koch Brothers, big coal, and his
national Republican agenda rather than his commitment to the people of New
Jersey, our environment, and green jobs. Now we need the New Jersey Legislature
to stand up to the Governor by overriding this veto protecting our environment
and economy,” said Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel. 


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In his veto message, the governor said:

“RGGI has failed to create economic incentives for fossil fuel-fired electric generators to limit greenhouse gases. Energy producers, accordingly, were not incentivized to use lower carbon-based fuels, improve emission controls, or increase efficiencies in production, Indeed, RGGI did nothing more than impose a tax on electricity to be borne by New Jersey’s overburdened taxpayers and ratepayers who already pay some of the highest energy costs in the country. Instead of increasing costs on New Jersey’s ratepayers unnecessarily, real change must be addressed on a national and international scale.”

“My veto of this bill was never in doubt. Rather than devote time to working with me in a bipartisan fashion of the still unresolved critical issues that affect News Jersey’s taxpayers, the Legislature instead chose to present me with a replica bill advancing a futile policy.”

Related:
 Christie Doesn’t Budge on Greenhouse Gas, Vetoes Initiative Again


See our most recent posts: 

RGGI Redux: Christie’s latest smackdown; Enviros livid Read More »

Enviros pushing lawmakers to get NJ back into RGGI

Image credit: Grist

The New Jersey Environmental Federation is calling on its supporters to travel to Trenton tomorrow (March 15) for what they are calling a Clean Energy Lobby Day.

What do they see as the problem?

“It’s
simple: Our clean energy future is at stake. In addition to cutting $700
million in clean energy funds over the last three years, Gov. Christie wants to
pull New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI),
squandering the state’s opportunity for over $680 million in funding for clean
energy over the next 8 years!”

And what is RGGI?  

“RGGI is a successful
energy program among 10 northeast states that reduces carbon emissions from
power plants and stimulates economic growth. It also provides a limited number
of tradeable carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances which the states auction off four
times a year. As of last year, the money raised at these auctions totaled $952
million. The funds are used for consumer programs such as energy assistance for
low income households and energy efficient measures. RGGI also creates jobs in
the clean tech sector, one of the most dynamic segments of our state economy.”

What is their goal?

“To get New Jersey legislators to
support the No Clean Air Rollback bills (S1322/A1998), which would BLOCK Gov.
Christie from abandoning RGGI, and to stop Gov. Christie from taking more of
our clean energy money away.”


New Jersey’s  ’empty seat’ at today’s RGGI auction

By foregoing participation in RGGI, New Jersey lost out on some $10 million today at the RGGI quarterly carbon auction, according to RGGI advocate Matt Elliott of Environment New Jersey.


“New Jersey, once a leader on clean energy solutions, is today a
laggard,” Elliott said. “Governor Christie is letting polluters off the hook
for fouling our air and he’s leaving $10 million in revenue on the table.”

David Pringle of the New Jersey Environmental Federation charged the governor with “failing to both invest in green jobs and
transferring the costs of polluters to the victims of respiratory disease,
taxpayers, and ratepayers.”

NJ Gov. Chris Christie
RGGI showdown votes in both houses tomorrow 

Democratic leaders in both the Senate and Assembly, eager to confront Republican Governor Chris Christie on the RGGI issue, have posted both bills for floor votes tomorrow. 

The state’s largest business organizations oppose the bills, arguing that RGGI drives up the cost of energy for large businesses that already are paying some of the highest energy rates in the country.

Even if both measures pass, the governor is almost guaranteed to veto them and, with Republican legislators generally agreeing with their guy in the front office, a veto override vote is all but guaranteed to fail. 

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Enviros pushing lawmakers to get NJ back into RGGI Read More »

RGGI revival legislation clears NJ Senate committee

[Updated at 4 p.m. to add related blog posts and video]

The bill we wrote about yesterday to keep New Jersey in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI – pronounced “Reggie”) was released yesterday, on a unanimous vote, from the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. 

There were few surprises. Environmentalists and clean energy advocates endorsed the legislation, while business organizations panned it.

Bill Supporters: GreenFaith, Environment New Jersey, American Littoral Society, NJ Conservation Foundation, NJ Audubon, NJ Forestry Association, NJ League of Women Voters, NJ League of Conservation Voters, NJ  Citizens Action, and the NJ Sierra Club.

Bill Opponents: New Jersey Business and Industry Association, Chemistry Council of New Jersey, and NJ State Chamber of Commerce

RGGI REDUX:  Basically, the hearing  testimony was a rerun of what was said last year when similar legislation passed through the Legislature before Gov. Chris Christie stomped it with his veto hammer.

NJ Spotlight’s Tom Johnson provides a summary of the meeting today in Lawmakers, Environmentalists Want NJ Back in Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

You also can hear the entire committee meeting online here.

Two interesting pieces of testimony that Tom does not mention:

  1. Bill Wolfe of NJ PEER broke ranks with his environmental compatriots in opposing the bill and the cap-and-trade approach on which it is based (Bill’s testimony starts at the 22:00 mark in the recording)

  2. Scott Needham, speaking for Efficiency First, an association of contractors who provide energy efficiency services, testified that, as a businessman who received a grant from the Department of Labor to train workers needed in the growing energy efficiency market, he was confused by the state’s withdrawal from the regional program that provided funds to stimulate growth in that sector.
    (Scott’s testimony runs from 38:24 to 40:21).         

Is RGGI a failed program that has not reduced greenhouse gases but has jacked up electric costs?  Or is it an evolving model for how other states, too, should be working to cut CO2 while boosting clean energy projects?

Tell s what you think in the comment box below.  If one is not visible, activate it by clicking on the tiny ‘comments’ link.

Related:
Resurrecting RGGI (BlueJersey opinion and video)
NY awarded for RGGI’s economic benefits; NJ lags behind (NRDC staffer blog)

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RGGI revival legislation clears NJ Senate committee Read More »

Former NJ Gov. raps current NJ Gov. on RGGI pullout

Former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean

Former Republican Gov. Thomas Kean told an audience at a Rutgers University conference yesterday that he  thought it was “a shame” that fellow Republican Gov. Chris Christie pulled New Jersey out of the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  [The right and left debate RGGI in New Jersey]. 
 

From today’s NJ Spotlight‘s report on the climate-change conference:

Former Republican Gov. Thomas Kean is such a believer in climate change
that he is calling on informed citizens to “confront those who don’t
believe in the science of it for the ignorant people that they are.”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

Speaking before a Rutgers University conference in New Brunswick
Tuesday, Kean criticized fellow Republican Gov. Chris Christie, saying
it was a “shame” that he pulled New Jersey out of the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Christie’s decision to pull out of RGGI was highly controversial and
was especially disappointing to its backers, who hoped the regional
initiative would serve as a successful prototype for a national effort
to combat global climate change. 

His decision also has been criticized
by Democrats in the legislature who have sought to enact bills to
maintain New Jersey’s participation in the program, most often without
any Republican backing.

When Christie announced his decision to withdraw from the program
this past summer, he conceded manmade activities were contributing to
global warming, but dismissed the regional initiative as ineffective and
merely a tax on consumers.

Former Gov. James Florio, however, said “we ought to be asking what it’s going to cost if we don’t do something.”

The state’s liberal political blog, Blue Jersey, which rarely misses an opportunity to criticize Mr. Christie, offered this perspective:

It is a sad measure of the lack of influence of Gov. Kean, a hugely
popular figure in New Jersey politics, on today’s Republican Party that
not one of the over 40 Republicans in the Legislature – who are led, in
part, by his son – will stand up to Christie the way that Kean did
yesterday.

As the event pointed out, it is ultimately our farmers, shore
communities, and tourism industry that will pay the price of state and
national inaction on climate change.


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