Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Delaware Joins 30 States in Climate Registry
Dover – Delaware joins 30 states in a national effort announced today that addresses climate change with a national registry to track greenhouse gas emissions. Delaware was one of the first states to become a charter member of The Climate Registry.
“Delaware is proud to be an original participant in the northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and now, the Eastern Climate Registry,” said Governor Minner. “With this initiative, we can better focus our state resources on developing innovative programs and policies that are good for Delaware’s environment and economy.”
The Registry will provide a standardized approach for measuring, tracking and verifying emissions of greenhouse gases and will begin accepting reporting data in January 2008. Governor Minner responded to the invitation to become a founding member in an April 19, 2007 letter to the Registry’s Steering Committee. She designated David Small, Deputy Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, as Delaware’s representative on the organization’s Board of Directors.
“The Registry will give us the ability to better manage greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the burdens on our industries and reporting entities, which will benefit all Delawareans,” said Small.
The Climate Registry will identify minimum greenhouse gas emissions standards to be recognized by the member states. Emissions results will be certified by independent, third parties to ensure compliance with Registry protocols and standardization across industries and state borders. The Registry will serve as a nationally-recognized platform for credible and consistent greenhouse gas emissions reporting and promote the full and public disclosure of these emissions while respecting business confidentiality.
RGGI is a cooperative effort by seven Northeastern states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants in the region. It is the first mandatory cap-and-trade program to control carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S., places a mandatory emissions cap on the electric generating sector and allows emissions trading to achieve the lowest possible compliance costs.
