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Archive: Dec 2019

Eastern States Introduce a Plan to Cap Tailpipe Pollution

Category: News

“When we’re going backward at the federal level, for states to step up and take action on climate, take steps to modernize our transportation system, it’s just an unprecedented opportunity,” said Jordan Stutt, carbon programs director at the Acadia Center, a research and public interest group in New England that is pushing for cleaner energy. “If designed well, this can be the most significant sub-national climate policy ever.” Read the full article from The New York Times here.

Maine undecided on joining regional plan to reduce vehicle pollution

Category: News

The transportation program is based on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a 2009 agreement to cap and trade power plant carbon emissions in nine Northeast states including Maine. Since its inception, CO2 emissions from power plants fell 47 percent, according to an analysis by the Acadia Center, a clean energy research group. Read the full article from Central Maine here.

Park City Wind

Category: News

Bridgeport looks to become a hub for offshore wind in Connecticut, with its Park City Wind project expected to deliver 14% of the state’s electricity supply. That is, if the offshore wind farm can get federal approval. Our guests: Jan Ellen Spiegel, energy and environmental reporter, Connecticut Mirror David Arconti, representative, D-Danbury, and chair, Energy and Technology Committee, Connecticut House of Representatives Deborah Donovan, senior policy advocate and Massachusetts director, Acadia Center Michael Passero, mayor, City of New London Listen to the episode from The Full Story here.

Climate change is no longer a future threat: it’s a crisis today | Opinion

Category: News

RGGI has been in effect since 2008, and a recent review by the Acadia Center of the program’s first 10 years found that: CO2 emissions from RGGI-covered power plants have fallen by 47 percent outpacing the rest of the country by 90 percent, while reductions in other air pollutants from these plants have resulted in over $5.7 billion in health and productivity benefits Electricity prices in RGGI states have fallen by 5.7 percent, while prices have increased in the rest of the country by 8.6 percent The combined economies of the RGGI states have grown by 47 percent, outpacing growth
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2/3 Voters: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Firms Should Pay For Pollution

Category: News

“The poll shows that people across the region want proactive leadership to address our transportation and climate challenges. We need bold solutions to make the shift to a clean transportation future, and an ambitious TCI program can jumpstart that transition.” — Jordan Stutt, carbon programs director, Acadia Center. Read the full article from ValueWalk here.

Acadia Center Applauds Regional Coordination to Reduce Tailpipe Pollution, Urges Ambitious, Equitable Action

Category: Press Releases

TCI Announcement Demonstrates Benefits of Transition to Clean Transportation, Highlights Need for Strong Program BOSTON — Today, 12 states and the District of Columbia announced the details of a new, regional program to cut tailpipe pollution while delivering much needed investment in clean, equitable, modern transportation options. Working together through the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), these jurisdictions[1] have developed a multi-state cap-and-invest program to address rising transportation emissions and the need for greater investment in a clean transportation future. Launching this program will be a major accomplishment at a substantial scale: the TCI region, were it a single country,
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Clearing the Path for Clean Heating

Category: Blog

With the winter solstice just around the corner, the Northeast’s heating season is in full swing and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from buildings are at their seasonal high. About 85% of homes in New England and New York rely on fossil fuels for heating, and this consumption accounts for about 30% of total regional GHGs. Fossil fuel use for heating also poses health and safety dangers like carbon monoxide poisoning and risk of explosion. The average home in the Northeast spends $1,000-$2,600 on heating fuel every winter, and because the Northeast imports all of its fossil fuels, this money flows
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New Polling Confirms Strong Support Across Eastern Region for Transportation Modernization

Category: News

“The poll shows that people across the region want proactive leadership to address our transportation and climate challenges. We need bold solutions to make the shift to a clean transportation future, and an ambitious TCI program can jumpstart that transition.” — Jordan Stutt, carbon programs director, Acadia Center. Read the full release from Our Transportation Future here.

Hydropower and Transmission: Updated Position Statement

Category: News

As Acadia Center has examined the path to a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, it has considered the potential for hydroelectric energy from existing impoundments to replace some of the fossil fuels used in the Northeast’s energy mix. The Northeast is currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels, especially natural gas, for electricity generation. According to multiple studies, when electricity comes from excess generation at existing hydro impoundments, it results in dramatically lower carbon emissions than electricity generated by fossil fuels.[1],[2] Beyond the question of whether carbon emissions from hydro are lower, Acadia Center has been open to hydropower imports
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