RGGI Forest Management Offsets Related Information

ENE and the Maine Forest Service, Manomet (MFS) joined forces to draft a concept paper laying out new forest management offset categories for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

RGGI is a market-based cap and trade program designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants in ten Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. RGGI will initially stabilize CO2 emissions, and then reduce them 10 percent by 2018. 

Power plants covered by RGGI must obtain an allowance for every ton of CO2 they emit.  RGGI provides some flexibility to electric generators by allowing plant owners to use pollution “offsets” – an off-system emissions reduction project –to meet a small portion of their emissions reductions. Allowable offsets are currently limited to five categores, and afforestation--or planting of new trees--is one such allowable offset.

ENE and MFS are proposing that RGGI add two more offsets to its allowance system: active forest management practices designed to increase carbon sequestration, and avoided deforestation.  ENE and MFS plan to release the concept paper soon for public discussion. In the meantime, see the power point presentation, "Forestry Offsets Presentation, June '07" for more information.

For more information on RGGI, see Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative