(Maine) Governor signs global warming law

[jpak]

http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/013055.html

Governor John Baldacci signed a landmark global warming law Monday that puts Maine on track to be part of the nation’s first regional effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The law, “An Act To Establish the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Act of 2007,” creates a system to limit carbon dioxide emissions from large power plants in Maine by requiring companies to pay for allowances to pollute. Power plants will then be able to buy and sell the credits, creating an incentive to reduce emissions.

Maine is one of 10 Northeast states participating in the cap-and-trade system. The states have agreed to freeze power plant emissions from 2009 to 2015 and cut them 10 percent by 2019.

<snip>

Since 2002, Maine has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 8 percent, the governor’s office said. Maine is the first state government in the nation to buy 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, it said.

<not much more>

[NNadir]

1. Since 2002? That's pretty misleading. 2002 was the year of the hydroelectric failure

in Maine, where Maine went nuts burning natural gas.

In that year it was an orgy of burning gas.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/sept05me.xls

This is sort of like a fellow going out on a bender with a bunch of hookers, blowing ten thousand dollars in cash on booze, and then noting on a night that he stays home and watches television that he has reduced his "entertainment" spending when compared to the night of his orgy.

Maine's carbon dioxide output is 150% what it was in the year Yankee Maine shut.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/sept07me.xls

Maine will continue to burn more and more fossil fuels because there is no realistic plant to do otherwise.

[jpak]

2. Amateur hobbyist nonsense

Maine has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 8% since 2002 - period.

Unlike New Jersey, which is increasing imports of coal-fired electricity, Maine is actually doing something about greenhouse gas emissions - period.