Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
CT SIPRAC Subcommittee Workgroup Information:
RGGI Offset Application Forms and Instructions
Final Sections 22a-174-31 and 22a-174-31a became effective July 23, 2008
CT RGGI Rules Proposed in January 2008
Sections 22a-174-31 (Section 31) and 22a-174-31(a) (Section 31a) were proposed in January 2008, to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in Connecticut. Related documents on the LRRC approval process are available below:
Background
RGGI is a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions - a greenhouse gas that causes global warming. To help address climate change, the RGGI participating states will be developing a regional strategy for controlling emissions from large fossil fuel-fired power plants. Central to this initiative is the implementation of a multi-state cap-and-trade program with a market-based emissions trading system. The proposed program will require electric power generators in participating states to reduce CO2 emissions.
Implementation of RGGI in Connecticut is an important part of the state’s overall Climate Change Action Plan.The RGGI process began in 2003, and the governors of seven states signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in December 2005. In August 2006, a final regional model rule was released, and a corrected RGGI model rule was released in January 2007. Individual states are now working to adapt the regional model rule to state-specific formatting, and state-specific policies are being developed to fill in blank sections of the model rule. Some of the key issues left for state determination included:
- size of the consumer benefit set-aside;
- uses for the revenues derived from the consumer benefit set-aside (e.g., what types of projects might be supported);
- allowance allocation methodologies.
The regional RGGI process included a robust stakeholder process. The numerous materials related to the various outreach initiatives and comment opportunities are available at the main RGGI website. As part of CT DEP’s regulatory development process for the RGGI rule, a series of three CT workgroup meetings were held on:
- December 14, 2006 - 1:30-3:30pm - Phoenix Auditorium
- February 15, 2007 - 1:30-3:30pm - Phoenix Auditorium
- April 26, 2007 - 1:30-3:30pm - Russell Room (3rd floor)
Comments on the RGGI process in Connecticut were solicited prior to the January 2008 release of the proposed rules. These comments are summarized below.
Links to the main RGGI website and state specific RGGI webpages
To be added to CT’s RGGI Workgroup list, please send your name and contact details to chris.nelson@ct.gov
Content Last Updated on July 15, 2009
