Regional Green Initiatives to Know About
Written by Communitopia Blogger - Erin Belknap
Part of our mission at Communitopia is to empower the people in our community to become climate advocates. We believe each person has their own unique brand of advocacy, and that collectively, we can bring about meaningful action in our community and beyond. We also believe that a big part of effective advocacy--no matter what that may look like-- is awareness and education. At Communitopia, we want to connect you with the tools and resources you need to become the best climate advocate that you can be.
With that in mind, we want to highlight some critical initiatives currently unfolding in our region that are aimed at moving us towards a greener, healthier, more sustainable future. These programs encompass climate action policy, pollution mitigation, economic development and investment in green infrastructure. We encourage you to check out these awesome initiatives and to further investigate how our region is tackling climate change.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) -
Often referred to as “Reggie”, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a multi-state program designed to reduce harmful carbon emissions from the power sector. Under RGGI, gas and coal-fired power plants that supply the state’s electricity would have a limit (a “cap”) on the amount of CO2 they can release into the environment. Here’s how it works: states auction off carbon emission allowances, where one allowance equates to one ton of carbon released into the atmosphere. Power plants buy allowances from the state--thus generating state revenue-- and then are permitted to trade and sell these allowances as needed within the RGGI network. RGGI’s carbon cap will steadily decrease over time, further incentivizing power suppliers to invest in clean energy projects, such as solar and wind, and energy efficiency projects.
Outside of reducing harmful CO2 emissions and improving health outcomes for residents, benefits of RGGI include the state revenues generated from the sale of carbon allowances. This revenue is then reinvested into other beneficial programs, including green energy programs, pollution reduction efforts, and various projects that create jobs and economic growth. RGGI will not affect electricity rates for the consumers, and has even been shown to reduce energy costs over the long-term.
Currently, the RGGI network consists of 10 Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, with Virginia expected to enter in 2021.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued an executive order last year making it possible for Pennsylvania to enter into RGGI, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board is now accepting public commentary on the proposal for Pennsylvania to participate in the program. If you are interested in making an official comment in support of RGGI through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s e-comment system, please click here. The public comment period will close on January 14th.
The Marshall Plan for Middle America MP4MA
The Marshall Plan for Middle America Roadmap (MP4MA) is an independent, non-partisan plan that outlines a pathway towards a green economy for the Ohio River Valley and surrounding regions. It was developed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and has garnered the support of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto along with mayors from eight other cities across three states. Research shows that the Ohio Valley will face more than 100,000 job losses as our nation begins shifting away from fossil fuels in favor of cheaper energy sources and renewables. The MP4MA plan ensures that our region is not only prepared for this shift, but ahead of it. The 60 billion dollar MP4MA plan--which would create 400,000 regional jobs-- would invest heavily in green infrastructure, transportation assets and energy diversification by means of federal grants, private investments, loans and tax incentives. This would not only create a healthy and sustainable regional economy, but it would also be a significant step in regional efforts to address the climate crisis. Mayor Peduto has already called for federal support to advance the initiative.
As stated in The Marshall Plan For Middle America Roadmap full research document (published by the University of Pittsburgh), “This MP4MA Roadmap is a starting point for discussion and ingenuity in regional development. It represents an opportunity to reimagine and reshape our existing economy so that we become the drivers of a global energy future that is built on renewables and circularity, rather than on fossil fuels.”. Next steps will involve looping in community stakeholders, businesses, residents and legislators, and finding pathways towards implementation. To read more about MP4MA, click here or check out this op-ed written by eight mayors across the region.
Reimagine Appalachia -
Reimagine Appalachia is a collaborative effort from organizations and residents across the four states of the Ohio River Valley--Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. It provides a framework for shifting the region to a clean, 21st century economy that better serves and cares for Appalachians of all backgrounds, races, and socioeconomic demographics. Reimagine Appalachia highlights the critical crossroads that we as a nation and region find ourselves at: climate legislation is gaining momentum, important social justice conversations are occuring, and federal economic stimulus packages are being drafted to lift us from the economic downturn brought about by Covid-19. This initiative demands that our region, our people and our land--all of which have long been exploited--are prioritized as the country moves forward.
Much like MP4MA, Reimagine Appalachia calls for federal investments to propel our region forward, invigorate our economy and combat climate crisis. Good-paying union jobs, equitable opportunities for all Appalachians, and community justice are central tenets of the initiative, and policy to uphold these tenets would be in place as federal investments are put to work. Key projects involved in Reimagine Appalachia include building out our region’s green infrastructure, modernizing our electric grid, building sustainable transportation systems, and restoring our natural landscapes to help absorb carbon emissions. This plan targets problems and opportunities that are unique to our region--such as providing genuine support for our region’s fossil fuel workers as the industry shifts, and remediating abandoned coal mines to serve as eco-industrial parks. It’s a plan by Applachians, for Appalachians.
