Regional Initiatives

Regional initiatives can be more efficient than programs at the state level, as they encompass a broader geographic area, eliminate duplication of work, and create more uniform regulatory environments. Over the past few years, a number of regional initiatives have begun developing systems to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, increase renewable energy generation, track renewable energy credits, and research and establish baselines for carbon sequestration.

Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord
On November 15, 2007, six states and one Canadian province established the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord. Under the Accord, members agree to establish regional greenhouse gas reduction targets, including a long-term target of 60 to 80 percent below current emissions levels, and develop a multi-sector cap-and-trade system to help meet the targets. Participants will also establish a greenhouse gas emissions reductions tracking system and implement other policies, such as low-carbon fuel standards, to aid in reducing emissions. The Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as the Premier of the Canadian Province of Manitoba, signed the Accord as full participants; the Governors of Indiana, Ohio, and South Dakota joined the agreement as observers to participate in the development of the cap and trade system. The Accord represents the third regional agreement among U.S. states to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and will be fully implemented within 30 months.

Press Release
Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord
Pew Center Statement

Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform for the Midwest*
In November 2007, the Governors of 11 midwestern states and the Premier of one Canadian province individually adopted all or portions of an Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform. The state of Missouri later adopted portions of the agreement as well.

The Platform lists goals for energy efficiency improvements, low-carbon transportation fuel availability, renewable electricity production, and carbon capture and storage development. In addition to goals related to energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, and biofuel production, the Platform lays out objectives with respect to carbon capture and storage. Members agree to have in place a regional regulatory framework for CCS by 2010, and by 2012, to have sited and permitted a multi-jurisdiction CO2 transport pipeline and have in operation at least one commercial-scale coal-powered IGCC power plant with CCS, with additional plants to follow in succeeding years. By 2020, all new coal plants in the region will capture and store CO2 emissions. Numerous policy options are described for states to consider as they work towards these goals.

The Platform also lays out a six cooperative regional agreements. These resolutions establish a Carbon Management Infrastructure Partnership, a Midwestern Biobased Product Procurement System, coordination across the region for biofuels development, and a working group to pursue a collaborative, multi-jurisdictional transmission initiative. States adopting all or part of the Platform include Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Ohio, as well as the Canadian Province of Manitoba.

Press Release
Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform for the Midwest

Western Climate Initiative
On February 26, 2007, Governors Napolitano of Arizona, Schwarzenegger of California, Richardson of New Mexico, Kulongoski of Oregon, and Gregoire of Washington signed an agreement establishing the Western Climate Initiative, a joint effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. In May 2007, Governor Huntsman announced that Utah will become the sixth state to join the WCI, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba (not shown above) have joined as the first participating jurisdictions outside of the United States. In November 2007, Governor Schweitzer announced that Montana will become the seventh state to join WCI. And in April 2008, the Canadian province of Quebec (not shown above) joined the Initiative. According to the Initative's memorandum of understanding, WCI members agree to jointly set a regional emissions target and establish, by August 2008, a market-based system – such as a cap-and-trade program covering multiple economic sectors – to aid in meeting it.

In August 2007, the Western Climate Initiative announced its regional, economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions target of 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, or approximately 33 percent below business-as-usual levels. The regional target is designed to be consistent with existing targets set by individual member states and does not replace these goals. Covered emissions include the six primary greenhouse gases identified by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

The WCI builds on work already undertaken individually by the participating states and provinces, as well as two existing regional agreements (see below): the Southwest Climate Change Initiative of 2006, which includes Arizona and New Mexico, and the West Coast Governors' Global Warming Initiative of 2003, which includes California, Oregon, and Washington. Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, and Alaska are observing the WCI process.

Press Release
Western Climate Initiative Statement of Regional Goal
Western Climate Initiative Website

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
On December 20, 2005, the governors of seven Northeastern states announced the creation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to implement the first mandatory U.S. cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide. RGGI sets a cap on emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants, and allows sources to trade emissions allowances. The program will begin by capping emissions at current levels in 2009, and then reducing emissions 10% by 2019. Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia are observers in the RGGI process.

On January 18, 2007, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing his state to join RGGI, making Massachusetts the eighth state to participate. In his State of the State address on January 30, Governor Donald Carcieri announced that Rhode Island would also be joining RGGI.

On April 6, 2006, Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. signed into law the Healthy Air Act. The bill required the Governor to include the state in RGGI by June 30, 2007. Maryland became the 10th official participating state in April 2007 with Governor Martin O'Malley's signing of the RGGI Memorandum of Understanding.

RGGI Q & A
More information on RGGI
Visit the RGGI site for more information

Western Governors’ Association (WGA): Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative*
On June 22, 2004, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) unanimously resolved to examine the feasibility and actions required to reach a goal of 30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2015 and a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. The Governors will also examine what is needed to meet the West's generation and transmission needs over the next 25 years. The resolution cites the need to protect against energy shortages and price spikes, accommodate the population's growing energy needs, position the Western energy system to respond to environmental challenges, and take advantage of new technologies that will lower the cost of renewable energy and of controlling emissions from the fossil fuel resource base. According to the resolution, the project will stress "incentive-based, non-mandatory approaches," and it will also consider federal programs that could assist in reaching the goal.

The WGA has created the Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee to oversee task forces to facilitate planning for the energy technologies necessary to meet this goal. Government officials, businesses, and non-profits (including the Pew Center) are working together on these task forces.

Visit the Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative site for more information.

West Coast Governors’ Global Warming Initiative*
In 2003, the Governors of the three West Coast states – California, Oregon, and Washington – announced an initiative to coordinate their states’ policies to combat global warming. Staff from the three states collaborated to produce a set of recommendations on strategies that the states can pursue cooperatively and individually.

Powering the Plains*
Powering the Plains is an effort of state officials, industry participants, agriculture representatives and renewable energy advocacy groups working on energy and agriculture initiatives that address climate change while promoting regional economic development. Participants in the process hail from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Canadian Province of Manitoba. Powering the Plains addresses energy and agricultural issues through the development of an integrated energy strategy, policy recommendations, and demonstration projects.

Visit the Powering the Plains site for more information.

The Honorable Jon Nelson, a legislator from North Dakota, gave a presentation on Powering the Plains at the Pew Center’s State-Federal Workshop. See the presentation here, in the Events section.

New England Governors: Climate Change Action Plan (NEG-ECP)*
The New England Governors' (NEG) Conference is a forum for the Governors of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine to work together to respond to regional issues. These states are also party to the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP) to address regional, cross-boundary issues. In 2001, the NEG-ECP developed the Climate Change Action Plan, a comprehensive and coordinated regional plan for reducing greenhouse gases that includes a goal of achieving 1990 emission levels by 2010 and 10% below 1990 levels by 2020. The states and provinces of the NEG-ECP are developing a variety of programs and policies, including RGGI, to meet their commitments. The 2001 Climate Change Action Plan of the New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers can be viewed here (pdf).

Southwest Climate Change Initiative*
Concerned about the potential impacts of climate change in the region, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed an agreement to create the Southwest Climate Change Initiative on February 28, 2006. The two states will collaborate through their respective Climate Change Advisory Groups, to identify options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting climate change mitigation, energy efficient technologies and clean energy sources. The Governors expect that these actions to address climate change will also spur economic growth. Under the Southwest Climate Change Initiative, Arizona and New Mexico will also advocate for regional and national climate policies.

Press Releases:
Arizona (pdf)
New Mexico

For more information about What States are Doing About Global Warming see the State Action Maps.

*not shown on map