Massachusetts and eight other Northeast states are slashing by nearly half the amount of carbon dioxide power plants are allowed to emit — a dramatic reduction that is expected to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to the state for energy efficiency programs while combating global warming.
In announcing the decision Thursday, the states said consumers and businesses should, on balance, see a negligible impact on their electricity bills when the new limits go into effect next year. The biggest impact will be reductions in greenhouse gases — and residents will get financial help making their homes weathertight.
Comments
I see the state is getting revenue here, isn't that always the bottom line. And I disagree, our electric rates will rise sharply. Thanks again Deval, since you're re-election you have really hammered the middle class.
This is the best news I've heard all year. Let's hope the rest of the country follows our lead. Global warming is the most important issue of our times, and we owe it to our children and ourselves to fight it.
This is good: pollution is a waste product, and the energy efficiency methods can make a big dent in a person's heating bills. After getting new windows & a new roof with proper insulation, my bill dropped like 15% to 20%. So my furnace is burning less and making less CO2 pollution.
Terrific. let's assume your windows and roof were fine and did not need to be replaced, would the side benefit of reduced heating bills and less co2 be worth it? extremely doubtful unless heavily subsidised with tax credits.
I encourage everyone to sign up for NSTAR Green. Our electricity comes from wind. We pay about 15.00 more per month for 100% wind. You can also choose 50% wind. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/01/31/green-electricity-finds-few-customers-mass/awxGuGG44ENt0UmrDAOegN/story.html
What an absolute bunch of baloney. Go look at cap and trade and how it has worked in Europe. The market is on the verge of collapse. It is not going to do one thing for global warming. Any reduction is more than made up by increased pollution from China and India . 39 cents ? Is this figure from the same economists who told us the stimulus would have us at 5% unemployment and 4% GDP in year 4 of the recovery. This is all fairy tale feel good b.s.
Don't expect any fact checking by this reporter. Basically, a stenographer tied at the waste to the environmentalists, consultants and those businesses depending on EPA grants.
A good idea at a bad time.
Where's the proofreader?