 |
|||||
|
|||||
Arizona Leaves Western Climate Initiative Arizona governor Jan Brewer issued an executive order in February removing the state from the regional cap-and-trade program known as the Western Climate Initiative.
Brewer, a Republican, said that participating in the program would harm Arizona’s economy. The head of the state’s environmental agency, Benjamin Grumbles, told the New York Times that the state would be supporting various initiatives to expand the use of renewable energy sources and nuclear power, with a particular emphasis on solar energy.
The WCI’s cap-and-trade program, in which member states would impose mandatory emissions caps while allowing pollution credits to be traded, is scheduled to begin on a limited scale in 2012. The program’s aim is to achieve 15 percent emissions reductions from 2005 levels by 2020.
With Arizona’s departure, six U.S. states and four Canadian provinces remain in the WCI. Grumbles said that Arizona would maintain its voting status within the group. |
|||||
|
|||||
To sponsor Western Energy News, please contact WEI at 503 231-1994.
|
|||||
Copyright © 2010. Reuse of this publication or its contents is allowed with credit to Western Energy Institute. |
|||||