CAP AND TRADE REALLY WORKS

RGGI Cap-And-Trade Boosted State Economies: Report

Connecticut has invested energy credits in green jobs and sustainable energy. Hails program a success.
New York on the other hand has tragically squandered its credits to plug the budget deficit gap! What a waste, taking the easy way out.

RGGI Cap-And-Trade Boosted State Economies: Report

The Huffington Post Joanna Zelman Posted: 03/ 1/11 02:39 PM

Read More: Cap And Trade, Cap-And-Trade, Climate Change, Ct Rggi, Nh Rggi, Politics, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Repeal Rg, Rggi, Rggi Ct, Green News

If cap-and-trade is truly dead, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is desperately fighting to resuscitate it.
RGGI was formed by ten states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, focused on reducing CO2 emissions through cap-and-trade programs. RGGI reported this week that state programs have already seen many economic and environmental benefits.
States are expected to sell emission allowances through auctions, and invest their proceeds in consumer benefits. Participating states are reportedly investing, on average, 80 percent of their CO2 allowance proceeds to consumer benefit and energy programs. The report's findings are based on a two-year analysis of program investments, specifically focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, bill payment assistance, and additional programs.
Overall the report finds that state investments have created jobs, reduced energy costs, and generated high economic returns.
The states have taken different approaches to achieve their communal goal of reducing CO2 emissions from the power sector 10 percent, by 2018. For example, in Connecticut, while most proceeds from CO2 allowances are going towards expanding programs focused on efficient and renewable energy, a small portion of their proceeds are aimed at additional climate programs. Nearly 70 percent of their investments are focused on energy efficiency, with 23 percent for renewable energy, and seven percent for other programs and administration.
The Energy Conservation Management Board (ECMB) runs energy efficiency programs in Connecticut. The ECMB consists of 14 members who advise the state's three electric distribution companies on programs that are both cost-effective and energy efficient. Programs are focused on public outreach, process improvement, and workforce development.
Reports show that between 2008 and 2009, these CT programs produced $3 to $4 for every $1 invested. Nearly 2,700 jobs are directly attributed to energy efficiency, with an average employment income of $50,000 per year. ECMB's energy efficient programs also reportedly benefit low-income consumers -- through auditing, weatherization, and retrofitting programs, consumers saw an estimated $6 million dollars in annual energy savings.

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Regarding renewable energy programs in CT, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) is focused on promoting clean energy sources. Last year, 14 schools and seven town buildings approved projects to install solar PV systems with CO2 allowance proceeds. RGGI estimates that these systems will produce nearly 1,500 megawatt-hours of electricity annually.
Connecticut also has a Small Business Energy Advantage Program (SBEA) focused on enabling small business owners to reduce their energy budgets. 1,900 businesses received assessments and upgrades in 2010, which saved participants over $5.8 million annually. According to RGGI, the upgrades also prevented nearly 18,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
The report offers the following story:

Chick's Drive-In, a landmark restaurant in West Haven, Connecticut, was just one of nearly 1,900 small businesses to benefit from SBEA in 2010. Through SBEA, the restaurant received financial incentives for the purchase and installation of more efficient lighting and refrigeration equipment. As a result, the owner Joseph "Chick" Celentano is now saving hundreds of dollars on his electricity bill each month. The eatery will save 468,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity--the equivalent of planting 56 acres of trees or saving more than 17,000 gallons of gas--over the lifetime of the new equipment.

But not everyone paints as rosy a picture as RGGI. Reports found that states such as New York and New Jersey aimed to divert green energy funds toward saving their budgets. The Sierra Club's Jeff Tittel remarks on the raid, "Unfortunately, once government discovers a new source of money, it's like a potato chip: They keep going back for more."
Just yesterday, a Fox News headline gleefully gloated, "One Giant Leap Forward - New Hampshire Smacks Down Cap-And-Trade." The op-ed highlighted New Hampshire's House of Representatives newly passed vote to repeal RGGI, with House Speaker William O'Brian claiming, "The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has always been a backdoor tax increase on the citizens of New Hampshire. RGGI is a perfect example of the cost of regulation to the public. Rarely has a program been as transparent in its attempts at income redistribution."
It seems that New Hampshire's House of Representatives may reflect U.S. Republican House sentiments overall. While 10 states may be participating in cap-and-trade initiatives, recent election results make it highly unlikely that a federal cap-and-trade program will be implemented in the near future.
Overall, while many consider the recent RGGI report a success story, skeptics remain dubious. Only time will tell if the programs can sustain themselves and inspire other states to follow suit.

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It's almost over!!!!!!!!

Of course I'm talking about the election campaign. I used to love this stuff and since there were no incumbents running I thought this one would be very interesting. Obama has lots of people excited and more interested than in most elections. McCain upped the anty when he chose that 'mavericky' girl Sarah Palin. What was he thinking??? It was a stupid Dan Quail type of move. Oh well as I said earlier it's almost over.

The best thing I've gotten out of this campaign was to see the start of a new energy initiative from the grass roots level---if you can call T. Boone Pickens a grass roots kind of guy. He has presented the Pickens Plan for energy self sufficiency. He's using his own money to fund the movement and seems to have some savvy tech people working on his sites and blogs. He's even traveling around the country and having town hall meetings to explain the plan and get feedback from the general public. If you are unfamiliar with the Pickens Plan I highly recommend that you go to his website and learn about it and even get involved on whatever level you want. Right now my only participation is to sign petitions to my representatives and e-mail my friends and relatives to join the "army". That's the Pickens Plan Army. He's trying to get 1.5 million people to sign the petitions and has done a great job virally since he's up to about 1.3 million.

This is a great opportunity to get Obama and McCain to produce their own energy plan or adopt the Pickens Plan. Pickens' plan is just common sense and a significant part of it can be acted upon immediately. For example, the first step would be to use natural gas as a fuel for cars. We have tons of it right here in the USA and the technology exists to make it practical. Since retrofitting gas stations with natural gas would take around 10 years he suggests starting with trucks and truck fleets. Trucks account for a large portion of gasoline usage. But they can either be retrofitted for natural gas or be mandated to use natural gas on new trucks. Truck company's can fill their fleets with it and truck stops can extend the geography for long haul truckers. While this is going on entrepeneurs such as Pickens or anyone else with balls can start working on solar cell farms and wind farms.

The Plan is practical and straight forward, it just gets me really excited. But again we need to put political pressure on our representatives and the new administration to help smooth the way with incentives. Pickens is 80 years old. He appears to be in good shape but he needs massive backup to get this movement going. Google search the Pickens Plan and see if you don't agree with me and want to get involved either with your computer or locally on your own. We can make this happen, I really believe it.......I'm just saying....let me know what you think!