T
he
C
ommonwealth of
M
assachusetts
E
xecutive
D
epartment
State House Boston, MA 02133(617) 725-4000
MITT ROMNEY
GOVERNOR
KERRY HEALEY
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 7, 2005
CONTACT:
Julie TeerCorbie Kiernan(617) 725-4025
ROMNEY ANNOUNCES STRICT NEW CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS TO TAKE EFFECTJANUARY 1
New clean air rules balance environmental and economic goals
Governor Mitt Romney today announced that Massachusetts will take another major step inmeeting its commitment to protecting air quality when strict state limitations on carbondioxide (CO
2
) emissions from power plants take effect on January 1, 2006.
“Massachusetts
continues to be committed to improving air quality for all our citizens.These carbon emission limits will provide real and immediate progress in the battle to
improve our environment,” Romney said.
“They help us accomplish our environmental
goals while protectin
g jobs and the economy.”
Massachusetts is the first and only state to set CO
2
emissions limits on power plants. Thelimits, which target the six largest and oldest power plants in the state, are the toughest inthe nation and are designed to lower emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide andmercury from power plant smokestacks.In addition to reaffirming existing stringent CO
2
limits, the draft regulations announcedtoday, which will be filed next week, contain protections against excessive price increasesfor businesses and consumers. They allow power generation companies to implementCO
2
reductions at their own facilities or fund other reduction projects off-site through agreenhouse gas offset and credits program.Relative to off-site projects, the new regulations propose a two-tiered system of triggers andsafety valves. At first, plants can do offset projects in the northeast region, which keepstechnology development and environmental benefits closer to home. However, if the priceof available offsets reaches $6.50/ton of emissions for 12 months, firms would then be ableto shop for offsets anywhere in the world, where cheaper opportunities might be available
–
thus protecting ratepayers while providing the same environmental benefit. If the price ofoffsets climbs yet higher to a point with unacceptable economic impacts, or $10.00/ton,