What's the Status of Your State's Climate Action Plan?

Connecticut

Connecticut’s global warming stakeholder process ended in 2003 and produced 55 recommendations for the development of a Climate Action Plan.  While the recommendations included many good policies, they were ultimately non-binding and it was unclear when the policies would be implemented. 

To keep the momentum going, in spring 2004 the state legislature passed global warming legislation requiring the state to create a Climate Action Plan by early 2005. 

Read more about the Connecticut Climate Coalition.

Maine

Maine's stakeholder process began in the mid-1990s, the result of which was a climate change planning document issued in 2000. The document evaluated the emissions reductions that could be achieved from a variety of policy options and made general recommendations.

The 2000 planning document did not provide for implementation of any policies, nor does it reflect the additional commitments of the New England Governor's 2001 agreement.

In 2003 Maine passed legislation requiring the state to create a Climate Action Plan by 2004 that is designed to meet the goals of the 2001 agreement.

Massachusetts

Governor Romney and Lt. Gov. Healey's disappointing last minute abandonment of the groundbreaking RGGI agreement is bad enough. Unfortunately, that's not all: the Romney-Healey administration has gone one step further. In a move favoring power plant owners over the environment and consumers, the administration has proposed weakening the state's 2001 regulations limiting global warming pollution from the "Filthy Five" power plants.

The proposed changes would establish a price cap that allows plant owners to pay the state a cut rate of $10 per ton of excess pollution rather than actually reducing harmful emissions. At an even lower price of $6.50 plant owners would be allowed to pay for alternative methods of cutting emissions, called offsets, anywhere in the world instead of at their own plants or in the Northeast.

These changes have been denounced by members of the coalition as well residents of the communities that host these power plants. Public hearings are currently being held on the rules changes. To get involved click here to find out everything you need to know. (PDF)

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services produced a planning document in 2001 that included a series of policy options for reducing global warming pollution. However, the document did not quantify reductions each policy would achieve, nor did it evaluate them, and therefore is an insufficient basis for a Climate Action Plan that would meet the goals of the New England Governors' 2001 agreement.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island has compiled a Greenhouse Gas Action Plan consisting of 49 consensus policy options which, if adopted, would come close to global warming pollution reduction approaching that called for by the New England Governor's 2001 agreement.

The stakeholder's process convened to create the plan has continued since the plan was released and will be entering Phase Five in the Fall of 2005. Next step policies, including those not mentioned in the original plan, being considered include adopting Pavley standards and other options that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

Rhode Island's Greenhouse Gas Action Plan is perhaps more comprehensive and far-reaching than any other state's, because it addresses actual implementation of policies. As such, it could serve as a model for other states to emulate. Read more about the Rhode Island Climate Coalition.

Vermont

In 1998 Vermont became the first New England state to issue a planning document. The document was part of a comprehensive state energy plan and contained many policy options for reducing global warming pollution, but it did not evaluate the reductions each policy could achieve. The document also does not reflect the commitments of the New England Governors' 2001 agreement.

In 2002, then-Governor Howard Dean issued an executive order charging the state with developing a plan for reducing global warming pollution from government sources. In 2003, Republican Governor Jim Douglas signed a similar order and took proactive steps to encourage the state government to reduce GHG emissions in accordance with the New England governors' agreement. While these small first steps are important, the governor has opposed proven strategies for reducing global warming such as a Renewable Portfolio Standard and increased statewide investments in energy efficiency.

Link to the Governor's September order on climate change.