Report On RGGI: Carbon Emissions Up Slightly

A regional agreement between ten states calls for reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. This week the non-profit  group, Environment Northeast, released its annual report analyzing how greenhouse gas emissions have changed in the region. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports.

Environment Northeast is one of the original environmental stakeholders that helped launch The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative three years ago. Its report found greenhouse gas emissions jumped slightly; by 9 % between 2009 and 2010.

Peter Shattuck of Environment Northeast says the increase was due to the hot, muggy days last summer when people used more electricity to run their air conditioners. But he says, despite the increase, emissions overall remain 27% below the  regional cap.  He says this is because there’s been a move from oil and coal to natural gas to generate electricity.

“You’re seeing a switch from a dirty source of fuel to a cleaner source of fuel. That’s bringing down emissions significantly.  But that hasn’t actually involved  building a whole lot of new power plants."

Shattuck says the shift has been driven by a drop in the price of natural gas.

For WNPR I’m Nancy Cohen.