Governor Rell, Other RGGI Governors Ask

Congress to Support Clean Energy Programs

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she and Governors from around New England have written leaders of the Energy & Commerce Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, urging them to make sure states continue to receive funding for clean energy programs if the federal government puts a moratorium on “cap and trade” programs intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

            The draft American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, now pending in Congress, would put a moratorium on state-level cap-and-trade programs from 2012 to 2017 in favor of a federal program. Governor Rell and her colleagues are concerned that state efforts supported by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) will suffer as a result.

            RGGI is a consortium of Northeastern 10 states working together to cut air pollution, improve energy efficiency and develop clean energy. Under Governor Rell’s leadership, Connecticut was one of the first states to join the historic program.

            “I do not want to see us lose the momentum and early progress we have made on reducing greenhouse gases and promoting clean energy,” Governor Rell said. “I appreciate the efforts to develop a comprehensive, national energy strategy and I believe a national cap-and-trade program can be a useful part of that scheme, but we cannot afford to let the federal effort undermine the progress states like Connecticut have made on their own.”

            Connecticut and the original RGGI states have already participated in three auctions of “allowances” purchased by power-generating companies and others to cover dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. Funds raised through the sale of the allowances are used to promote energy conservation and help fund clean and renewable energy programs.

            The RGGI auctions in September, December and March generated $14 million for Connecticut, which Governor Rell recently allocated to a variety of energy programs:

·        Department of Environmental Protection ($1.05 million) – to administer emission reduction programs in the state and develop a strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change. It includes assessing the impact on infrastructure, public health and natural resources.

·        The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund ($3.28 million) – offers financial incentive and education program that encourage homeowners, businesses and others to use renewable energy.

·        Connecticut Light & Power ($7.3 million), United Illuminating ($1.82 million), Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative ($609,748) – energy conservation and efficiency programs.

“The money we make on RGGI auctions enables us to reduce our dependence on imported oil and support energy efficiency programs, the search for alternative energy sources and the elimination of dangerous emissions,” Governor Rell said. “Thanks to our efforts Connecticut and the other New England states have a real head start on the rest of the nation.”