EPA Climate Change Programs in New England

New England States Climate Efforts

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The New England states are national leaders on addressing climate change. All six states have greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories identifying the kinds of sources and amounts of greenhouse gases they emit. And they are all putting in place and carrying out aggressive statewide plans to reduce energy use and promote cleaner energy as a way to respond to climate change.

Since greenhouse gases do not recognize borders, regional efforts to address climate change are critical. In New England, collaborations among the states, as well as with other Northeast states and Canadian provinces are central to climate change and clean energy programs. Through the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference, states and provinces have addressed energy, trade, transportation, security, and specific environment topics. 

• Incentive Programs for Efficiency and Renewable Energy: The New England states have created a variety of incentive programs for efficiency and renewable energy to encourage individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.  Depending on the state, these incentives may take the form of tax breaks, loans, grants and rebates.   Statewide energy "challenge" and awards programs such as those in Maine and Connecticut recognize energy-related activities that states want to encourage. These initiatives result in reduced emissions of greenhouse gases.  For more information, including a database of state incentives nationwide, visit State Incentives.

• Promoting Renewable and Clean Energy: Every New England states has renewable energy portfolio standards that require electric utilities and other retail electric providers to supply a minimum percentage or amount of electricity to customers from specified renewable and clean energy sources. Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut have established public benefit funds for statewide renewable and clean energy supply programs. Money collected by levying a small fee from customers’ electric bills is used to fund renewable energy, combined heat and power, and other clean energy source projects. States play a key role in fostering development of voluntary green power markets that deliver cost-competitive, environmentally beneficial renewable energy resources by giving customers the opportunity to purchase clean energy. For a complete list of New England wind projects, operating, under construction and planned, please visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiencies and Renewable Energy website.

• Promoting Energy Efficiency: Energy efficiency portfolio standards in Connecticut and Vermont require direct energy providers to meet a specific portion of their electricity demand through energy efficiency. Public benefit funds for energy efficiency have been established in all six New England states. These are used to reimburse customers for energy efficiency measures and to support statewide energy efficiency programs and projects.

• State Climate Action Plans: The New England states have each developed specific climate change plans to reduce GHG emissions. (CT, ME, MA, NH (PDF) (82 pp., 6.71 MB, about PDF), RI, VT)

• New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers:  -  The Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers  (NEG-ECP) developed the regional Climate Change Action Plan (PDF) (21 pp., 85 KB, about PDF), with a goal of achieving 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2010 and 10% below 1990 levels by 2020.

• Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI or “Reggie”) – RGGI is an effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants through a cap and trade program.

• The Climate Registry - The Climate Registry is a mulit-state and tribe collaboration aimed at developing and managing a commong greenhouse gas emissions reporting system with high integrity that is capable of supporting various GHG emissions reporting and reduction policies for its member states and tribes and reporting entities.
• NESCAUM - NESCAUM is a nonprofit association of air quality agencies in the Northeast. NESCAUM's Climate and Energy Team supports the northeast states in their individual and regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve energy efficiency, and implement clean and renewable energy technologies. NESCAUM's efforts include a variety of activities to support states in meeting their climate and energy goals, such as technical assistance, policy analysis, and strategic communications and outreach.