One of the region’s highest-profile, and some say most successful, efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions will be the topic of discussion today, as the public is being asked to suggest changes to the program known as RGGI.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade program involving carbon dioxide emitted by electricity production, is undergoing an every-four-years policy review in its nine participating states.
A coalition of New Hampshire environmental groups is collecting suggestions about possible changes, and are holding what they call a People’s Hearing at UNH Law School in Concord today.
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with presentations from energy experts from Ceres and The Acadia Center. It is free and open to everybody.
Sponsoring organizations include Environment New Hampshire, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, Mom’s Clean Air Force, Toxics Action Center, Union of Concerned Scientists, and New Hampshire Sierra Club.
These groups generally argue that the levels of CO2 allowed under RGGI should be reduced more quickly than is currently planned, and that New Hampshire should use all of the money paid by electric utilities under RGGI to increase energy efficiency programs; some of it is currently used to lower electric rates.
The meeting will be held in Room 200 of the Law School at 2 White St. in Concord.