Alison Stone

November 12, 2010

The Future of Cap-and-Trade in the Northeast?

Gubernatorial elections in New England and the mid-Atlantic region have left analysts wondering about the future of the nation's only active cap-and-trade scheme. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, pronounced "Reggie") is a market-based cap and trade program designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants in the northeast. Supporters expect that the program will continue to "hum along." However, whether Maine and New Jersey will continue to participate—and if so, what their role will be—is uncertain under governor-elect Paul LePage (R-NJ) and Governor Chris Christie (R-ME).

Source:

Jonathan Hiskes, The Post-Election Outlook for Regional Cap-and-Trade, Grist (Nov. 9, 2010 4:01 AM), http://www.grist.org/article/2010-11-09-the-post-election-outlook-for-regional-cap-and-trade

EPA Addresses Water Quality in Gloucester, Massachusetts

EPA has released for public comment its draft decision to deny the City of Gloucester's application for an extension of a waiver of Clean Water Act requirements. The proposed waiver denial is based on the city's failure to meet the current permit limits, including limits regarding toxicity, oil and grease, and fecal coliform bacteria.

Source:
EPA Addresses Water Quality Issues in Gloucester, EPA (Nov. 4, 2010), http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/B18BCEFA93E66B9A852577D2005C50BD.

Vermont Yankee Shuts Down, Reconnects, and Refuels Debate

The Vermont Yankee Reactor nuclear plant shut down on Sunday, November 7 due to a cooling water leak. The plant reconnected on Thursday, but in the interim refueled the debate on the Vermont Legislature's decision that it will not to renew the plant's license in March 2012.

Source:
Matthew L. Wald, Vermont Yankee Reactor Restarts, New York Times (November 11, 2010), http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/11/vermont-yankee-reactor-restarts/?partner=rss&emc=rss.

EPA Forces MBTA to End Train Idling

A decree between the EPA and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority requires commuter rail layover or maintenance facilities to take measures to prevent excess idling during layovers. When out-of-service diesel trains have sat idly at commuter rail facilities, as they have for decades in the Boston area, they release emissions that impact public health and the environmental in surrounding communities. EPA's action was taken at the prompting of an environmental non-profit group.

Source:
Claire Morgenstern, CLF Action Prompts EPA to Force the MBTA to End Train Idling at South Boston Rail Yard and Other Commuter Rail Facilities, Conservation Law Foundation (November 8th, 2010), http://www.clf.org/blog/healthy-communities/clf-action-prompts-epa-to-force-the-mbta-to-end-train-idling-at-south-boston-rail-yard-and-other-commuter-rail-facilities/.

Massachusetts Coal-Burning Facility Requests De-Listing

The owner of a power plant in Salem, MA that has raised concerns among environmentalists, health advocates, and safety officials has requested that the plant be permanently de-listed. Analysts suggest this may foreshadow a shut-down of the plant.

Source:
Erin Ailworth, Salem Power Plant Seeks Delisting, Boston Globe (Nov. 10, 2010), http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/11/10/salem_power_plant_seeks_delisting/.