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Clean air advocates putting hopes in regional program
David Giambusso is reporting at Politico New York because the future of the federal Clean Power Plan is in doubt following the general election, fresh air proponents are turning their attention to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. That initiative caps carbon emissions from the power sector and sells allowances back to the market. The program has proven to be a success for power plants, its nine member states and clean energy promotion. Money won from selling carbon allowances is invested by states back into energy efficiency and renewables. The design for the initiative from 2020 to 2030 is expected to be laid out by early 2017, at the latest. Advocates pushed for an annual 5 percent reduction in emissions, but during a conference this week, it looked like the cut was more likely to be in 2.5 to 3.5 percent range. Conor Bambrick, air and energy director for Environmental Advocates of New York sad, "While they didn't talk about the 5 percent at all ... the states are coalescing around getting the best package they can." Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration said it was premature to assume the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative would not pursue more aggressive cuts. "At this time, no decisions have been made and everything is still on the table," said a state Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman. Read the full story at Politico New York.