Public Meeting Notice  Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Proposed Changes Hearing

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), acting under the statutory authority of G.L. c. 25A, §§ 6 and 13, G.L. c. 21A, §22, and in conformance with G.L. c. 30A, is holding public hearings on proposed amendments to 225 CMR 13.00, the DOER CO2 Budget Trading Program Auction Regulation.  DOER is proposing these amendments concurrent with MassDEP’s proposed revisions to 310 CMR 7.70: CO2 Budget Trading Program.   Together, these proposed amendments implement the changes announced by Governor Baker on August 23, 2017, to revise the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program by reducing the regional cap and implementing programmatic changes, including the auction process, consistent with a model rule developed by the nine RGGI states.  The overall changes to the RGGI program will cause real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and, in accordance with the Green Communities Act, the economic proceeds will be invested in programs to promote energy efficiency, conservation and demand response.