11 states lead green movement

 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued the following news release, today: 

Massachusetts and 10 other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states have committed to developing a regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuels for vehicles and other uses, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles announced today. These 11 states – which include all the member states of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) plus Pennsylvania – will work together to create a common fuel standard that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a technology-neutral basis.

This all started when Massachusetts governor, Deval Patrick, sent a letter requesting that other states in the area work together to develop the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).  The sentiment shared was that since there is an interconnectedness in those states for fuel distribution, working to together would ensure and easier and more effective implementation.  As a result, last week, the heads of environmental protection agencies and, in some cases, energy agencies in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont signed a Letter of Intent to tackle the challenge of reducing greenhouse gases from fuels in a joint effort.

In the Letter of Intent, the 11 states commit participating in research set to analyze low carbon alternatives and set up a framework that supports the use of sustainable energy in the area.  They also commit to share all of their information with other governors. They will also work with the federal government in ensuring success of the LCFS.

The news was first released through the Environment News Network.