NJ Gov Phil Murphy Signs Executive Order To Rejoin Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Gov. Phil Murphy yesterday signed an executive order to have the state rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a step signaling the state is shifting to a much more aggressive stance on fighting climate change. In an event in Atlantic Highlands, the governor fulfilled one of his primary environmental pledges by reentering the multistate program to reduce pollution from power plants by participating in the carbon budget-trading program.
New Jersey was once a part of RGGI, but former Gov. Chris Christie pulled out in 2012, a decision he attributed to the program's ineffectiveness and cost, but critics blamed on his presidential ambitions and the conventional Republican skepticism about climate change.
The RGGI program imposes an allowance on carbon emissions, a cost passed on to ratepayers, but returned to states to help fund clean-energy programs. By withdrawing from the program, New Jersey missed out on $279 million in revenue, Murphy said.
His executive order starts what will be at least a six-month and probably longer process to get back into the program. The Legislature also is moving a bill to have the state rejoin RGGI, but both the executive order and legislative process will require the state to draft, publish, and review public comments on the new rules. Nevertheless, the governor and clean energy advocates welcomed the long expected move. "Pulling out of RGGI slowed down progress on lowering emissions and has cost New Jerseyans millions of dollars that could have been used to increase energy efficiency and improve air quality in our communities,'' Murphy said.
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