News
You can find the latest news on the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord here.
Governor Doyle to Co-Host Governors’ Global
Climate Summit
November 11, 2008 -
Governor Jim Doyle announced today that he
will co-host the Governors’ Global Climate Summit in
Los Angeles on November 18 and 19. This
international summit, hosted by Governor Schwarzenegger of California, will bring together world leaders to develop
creative, collaborative actions to advance the global climate
agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that will be
negotiated in Poland in December and in Copenhagen next year. The
Governors’ summit also provides an opportunity for states and
provinces to partner to reduce emissions and grow green
economies.
“Wisconsin is taking the lead to develop clean
energy and address the challenge of climate change on a state,
regional, and international level,” Governor Doyle said. “This
trip is an opportunity to strengthen important relationships
with business and government officials nationally and
internationally and develop climate change strategies that will
save us money, create jobs, help secure our world and improve
our air and water.”
Click Here for Release
Accord Draft Recommendations Document Updated
November 3, 2008 - The document with Draft Recommendations
for the Accord has been updated. Accord subgroups will continue
to meet between now and the meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba to
discuss the recommendations. An updated document will be
available for the meeting, which will take place November 20-21.
Click Here to View the Document
Governor Doyle Honored for Commitment to Clean
Energy: Wins Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's 2009 Inspiring
Efficiency Leadership Award
October 27, 2008 -
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) announced Governor
Jim Doyle is the recipient of its 2009 Inspiring Efficiency
Leadership Award. The annual award is presented to the
organization or individual who has served as a strong leader in
support of energy efficiency in their city, state, region,
company, or community.
“I am honored to receive this award in
recognition of the state’s efforts to reduce our energy
consumption and move toward energy independence,” Governor Doyle
said. “From manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels
to retro-fitting fuel pumps and exploring the latest clean
technologies,
Wisconsin’s future lies in seizing green
opportunities that will create good jobs for our citizens and
add billions of dollars to our economy.”
This year marks the MEEA’s 5th
annual Inspiring Efficiency Awards competition
recognizing leaders who deliver groundbreaking advancements in
energy efficiency across five categories: Education, Impact,
Marketing, Innovation and Leadership.
Click Here for Release
Kresge Foundation Provides Grant to Implement
Accord
October 10, 2008 - Michigan-based
Kresge Foundation announced
its decision to provide assistance in the implementation of the
Accord. Their generous grant will assist in realizing the
historic goals that were established last November.
In addition to The Kresge Foundation, generous
grants have also been provided by
The Joyce Foundation and
The McKnight Foundation.
Governor Pawlenty Announces $10 Million for
Micro-Energy and Conservation Loans
October 8, 2008 - Governor Pawlenty announced
that $10 million is now available for micro-energy and
conservation home improvement loans to help Minnesotans save on
energy costs.
The program was proposed by the Governor in
his 2008 State of the State Address as another way for Minnesota
to expand homegrown energy, grow green collar jobs, and improve
the environment.
"It's more important than ever that we lead
efforts to Americanize energy production and help homeowners
lower their energy costs," Governor Pawlenty said. "This program
will fund low-interest loans for micro-energy technologies such
as home-based solar, next-generation windmills, geothermal
heating and other renewable energy sources."
Click Here for Release
Governor Culver Announces Green Iowa
AmeriCorps Program to Help Rebuild a Greener Iowa
October 6, 2008 - Governor Chet Culver announced today the
launch of 56 AmeriCorps positions in the new “Green Iowa”
initiative. The mission of this new program is to assess energy
saving needs in communities and provide energy-saving education
and service through community outreach.
“AmeriCorps members are tackling our toughest problems,
strengthening our communities, and improving the civic life of
our state,” said Governor Culver. “They have played an
important role in helping Iowans recover from this year’s
natural disasters, and their work continues through this
innovative, new program.”
Click
Here for Release
Governor Doyle and German Officials Agree to
Cooperative Action on Energy and Climate Change
September 30, 2008 - Governor Jim Doyle today
made a joint statement with top German officials on their common
conviction that climate change and fossil fuel dependence
require immediate action to advance low-carbon technology and
reduce greenhouse gasses.
“Taking on the challenge of
climate change, improving our energy security and growing jobs
in a clean energy economy are all closely linked, and it is
imperative that we build the partnerships necessary to advance
this work,” Governor Doyle said. “Germany and Wisconsin have
strong bonds, and we look forward to strengthening our combined
efforts to confront climate change and our energy policies.”
Governor Doyle and German officials agreed to
intensify existing partnerships and to participate in the
"Transatlantic Climate and Energy Initiative," which was
initiated at the conference today in Berlin.
Click Here for Release
Western Climate Initiative
Releases Design Recommendations
September 30, 2008 - The Western
Climate Initiative (WCI) announced
recommendations for the design of a regional market-based
cap-and-trade program. The program will slash climate-changing
greenhouse gas emissions, spur growth in new green technologies,
help build a strong clean-energy
economy and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
The cap-and-trade design is an
important element of a comprehensive regional effort by the
governors and premiers of seven U.S. states and four Canadian
provinces to promote environmental sustainability and economic
growth by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent below
2005 levels by 2020.
The new, multi-sector program
will be the most comprehensive carbon reduction strategy
designed to date. It will cover nearly 90% of the region’s
emissions, including those from electricity, industry,
transportation, and residential and commercial fuel use.
Together, the seven states and four provinces represent over 70
percent of the Canadian economy and 20 percent of the U.S.
economy.
Click Here for Release
Regional Greenhouse Gas
Initiative Holds Auction of Emissions Allowances - Announce a
Strong Start
September 29, 2008 - The states
participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
announced that the auctioning of carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions allowances in North America is off to a strong start.
All of the 12,565,387 allowances offered for sale on September
25, 2008 were sold at a clearing price of $ 3.07 per allowance.
RGGI, Inc. reported that 59
participants from the energy, financial and environmental
sectors took part in the first-in-the-nation auction, indicating
a strong start in the first of many CO2
allowance auctions. The demand for the
allowances appeared to have been very strong with a total of
quantity of 51,761,000 allowances demanded which was four times
available supply for this first auction.
Click Here for
Release
New Timeline Approved and Status Report
September 26, 2008 -
At the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord Advisory
Group meeting held in Des Moines on September 15-16, the
Advisory Group approved an updated
timeline for implementation of the Accord. For other
documents from this meeting please click
here.
Additionally, the Midwestern Governors
Association (MGA) has updated its Energy
Initiatives webpage to include a status report on its progress
and a brief timeline of expected milestones.
To view the update and timeline from the MGA,
click here.
Public Meeting Announced on Greenhouse Gas
Reduction
July 21, 2008 - The Midwestern Governors Association, in
partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)
Center for Environmental Sustainability Education, will hold a
public meeting on July 29 to
discuss the work of the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Accord Advisory Group. The public meeting will be held from
12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the UWM School of Continuing
Education.
The public meeting will allow interested individuals to
learn more about the process, ask questions and provide comment
on the work being undertaken. In addition to providing
information on the overall effort, breakout sessions have been
set-up to discuss the work of four of the subgroups.
Click Here
for Release
EPA Releases Report on Climate Change and
Health
July 18, 2008 -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a report
that discusses the potential impacts of climate change on human
health, human welfare, and communities in the U.S. The report,
entitled "Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human
Health and Welfare and Human Systems," also identifies
adaptation strategies to help respond to the challenges of a
changing climate and identifies near- and long-term research
goals for addressing data and knowledge gaps.
The report discusses the challenges and potential effects of
climate change, including unusual or unexpected weather, and how
some individuals and communities may be disproportionately
affected by climate change, including the elderly, the poor,
children, and people with chronic medical conditions. However,
the U.S. has well-developed public health infrastructures and
environmental programs that protect our air and water, which can
help minimize the impacts.
Click Here for Report
EPA Announces Proposed Rule on Carbon
Sequestration
July
18, 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
proposing a regulation to create a national framework for the
injection of carbon dioxide underground and protection of
underground drinking water resources. The rule would create a
new class of injection wells under the authority of the Safe
Drinking Water Act's Underground Injection Control (UIC)
program.
The EPA states the proposed rule builds on the existing UIC
program, including extensive requirements to ensure wells are
appropriately located, constructed, tested, monitored, and
ultimately, closed with proper funding. It would apply to owners
and operators of wells that will be used to inject carbon
dioxide into the subsurface for the purpose of long-term
storage.
EPA is coordinating with the Department of Energy on carbon
sequestration research and development.
EPA is requesting public comments on the proposed rule for 120
days. Proposal and information about geologic sequestration
activities and the UIC program at:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_sequestration.html
Governor Doyle Announces Record State Clean
Energy Purchase
July
9, 2008 - Governor Jim Doyle announced today that the State of
Wisconsin has purchased over 92,400 megawatt hours (MWh) of
renewable electrical energy, one of the largest government
purchases of renewable energy in the nation.
“Government should be a clean energy leader, and the State of
Wisconsin is taking major steps to lead the way and improve our
energy independence,” Governor Doyle said. “This purchase
will help encourage expansion of renewable energy sources in
Wisconsin and keep our energy dollars in the local economy.”
Click Here for Release
New Observer to Accord Announced
May 27, 2008 - The signers and observers of
the Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord welcomes the
Canadian province of Ontario as its newest observer.
Ontario joins Manitoba to become the second Canadian
province to take part in the Accord. As a boarder to the
Midwestern states, the provinces further enhance the Midwestern
goal of decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Governors Sign Greenhouse Gas Accord
November 15, 2007 – Ten Midwestern leaders – Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana, Governor Chester J. Culver of Iowa, Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio, Governor M. Michael Rounds of South Dakota, and Premier Gary Doer of Manitoba – today signed the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.
Indiana, Ohio, and South Dakota are signing the agreement as observers to participate in the formation of the regional cap-and-trade system.
The Accord will:
- Establish greenhouse gas reduction targets and timeframes consistent with MGA member states’ targets;
- Develop a market-based and multi-sector cap-and-trade mechanism to help achieve those reduction targets;
- Establish a system to enable tracking, management, and crediting for entities that reduce greenhouse gas
emissions; and
- Develop and implement additional steps as needed to achieve the reduction targets, such as a low-carbon fuel
standards and regional incentives and funding mechanisms.
The historic agreement, signed at the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) Energy Security and Climate Change Summit held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will serve as a regional strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.
“This is a momentous day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” said Governor Doyle, chair of the MGA. "Leaders from across the Midwest are charting a new energy direction for our citizens, our nation, and our world, creating high-paying jobs for our citizens and building a cleaner and safer world for generations to come. Our strong manufacturing base and rich agricultural industries, along with the wealth of resources in our vast northern forests and our world-leading research universities, position the Midwest to become the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy.”
The Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord builds on existing greenhouse gas reduction efforts in each state as well as existing regional efforts. The new Midwest regional effort will include more states. Current emission levels in these states will require more aggressive efforts than in other regions.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord
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