The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI,pronounced "Reggie") is the first mandatory market-based program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the United States. RGGI is a cooperative effort among the states of Connecticut,Delaware,Maine,Maryland,Massachusetts,New Hampshire,New Jersey,New York,Rhode Island,Vermont,and Virginia to cap and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the power sector. RGGI compliance obligations apply to fossil-fueled power plants 25 megawatts (MW) and larger within the 11-state region. Pennsylvania's participation in the RGGI cooperative was ruled unconstitutional on November 1,2023,although that decision has been appealed. North Carolina's entrance into RGGI has been blocked by the enactment of the state's fiscal year 2023–25 budget.
Frank Vana Chopp is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives,representing the 43rd district since 1995. His district covers the neighborhoods of Montlake,Fremont,Wallingford,the University District,Madison Park,and part of Capitol Hill,all of which are in Seattle. Chopp served as Speaker of the House from 2002 to 2019.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,originally named the Clean Energy Act of 2007,is an Act of Congress concerning the energy policy of the United States. As part of the Democratic Party's 100-Hour Plan during the 110th Congress,it was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representative Nick Rahall of West Virginia,along with 198 cosponsors. Even though Rahall was 1 of only 4 Democrats to oppose the final bill,it passed in the House without amendment in January 2007. When the Act was introduced in the Senate in June 2007,it was combined with Senate Bill S. 1419:Renewable Fuels,Consumer Protection,and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. This amended version passed the Senate on June 21,2007. After further amendments and negotiation between the House and Senate,a revised bill passed both houses on December 18,2007 and President Bush,a Republican,signed it into law on December 19,2007,in response to his "Twenty in Ten" challenge to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% in 10 years.
United States vehicle emission standards are set through a combination of legislative mandates enacted by Congress through Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments from 1970 onwards,and executive regulations managed nationally by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),and more recently along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These standards cover tailpipe pollution,including carbon monoxide,nitrogen oxides,and particulate emissions,and newer versions have incorporated fuel economy standards. However they lag behind European emission standards,which limit air pollution from brakes and tires.
Roger Elliot Goodman is an American lawyer and politician serving as a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives,representing the 45th district since 2007. Goodman won re-election in 2012 against Republican Joel Hussey. Goodman has been described by the Seattle Times as "progressive."
The climate change policy of the United States has major impacts on global climate change and global climate change mitigation. This is because the United States is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world after China,and is among the countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions per person in the world. Cumulatively,the United States has emitted over a trillion metric tons of greenhouse gases,more than any country in the world.
Stephen Platner Tharinger is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He is a member of the Washington House of Representatives,representing the 24th district.
Drew Derrick Hansen is an American lawyer,author,and politician serving as a member of the Washington Senate from the 23rd district since 2023. He previously represented the same district in the Washington House of Representatives.
The Energiewende is the ongoing energy transition by Germany. The new system intends to rely heavily on renewable energy,energy efficiency,and energy demand management.
The Electricity Security and Affordability Act is a bill that would repeal a pending rule published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on January 8,2014. The proposed rule would establish uniform national limits on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new electricity-generating facilities that use coal or natural gas. The rule also sets new standards of performance for those power plants,including the requirement to install carbon capture and sequestration technology.
Luanne Miller Van Werven is an American politician. Van Werven is a former Republican member of Washington House of Representatives for District 42. Van Werven served from January 12,2015 to January 11,2021. She was elected vice chair of the Washington State Republican Party in January 2013 and served as interim chair from July to August later that year,when she lost the position to Susan Hutchison. She previously served as chair of the party in Whatcom County.
Lashrecse Dianna Aird /ˌla.ʃəˈɹis/ is an American Democratic politician who represented the 63rd District in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2016 to 2022. The district includes Dinwiddie County and the city of Petersburg as well as parts of the counties of Chesterfield and Prince George. Aird served on the General Laws,Health,Welfare and Institutions,and Appropriations committees.
DeAndrea Salvador is a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate. She has represented the 39th Senate district since 2021. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Renewable Energy Transition Initiative (RETI),a nonprofit that educates communities and leaders about energy conservation and affordability. She was a 2018 TED Fellow. Elected at age 30,Salvador is the youngest Black woman ever to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly.
Bill George Ramos is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Washington State Senate representing the state's 5th district. He won election to the State Senate in November 2024,defeating Republican Chad Magendanz with 51.9% of the vote. He previously served in the Washington State House of Representatives representing the 5th district from 2019 to 2025. Before his legislative career,Ramos was a member of the Issaquah City Council from 2016 to 2018.
Lisa Callan is a Democratic member of the Washington Legislature representing the State's 5th House district for position 2. Callan has held office since 2019 after being elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2020.
David M. Paul is a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives.
Mari Lynn Kruger Leavitt is an American politician from Washington. She serves in the Washington House of Representatives for 28th legislative district in Pierce County.
T'wina T. Nobles is an American politician who is a member the Washington State Senate from the 28th district,elected in 2020.
The Virginia Clean Economy Act was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam in 2020. The bill establishes a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS),which mandates that the two utilities in the state,Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Electric Power,produce 100 percent renewable electricity by 2045 and 2050,respectively. It also sets energy efficiency standards. Utilities that fail to comply with the RPS will pay into a fund that,in-part,goes toward training historically disadvantaged communities for employment in the clean energy sector. As it was originally written,the bill would have included joining RGGI of Northeastern US states,but that provision was pulled out and passed in a later bill.
Washington Initiative Measure No. 2066 (I-2066) was a popular referendum that was decided on November 5th 2024. The initiative was placed on the ballot by a coalition of organizations led by the Building Industry Association of Washington,a Tumwater-based non-profit organization representing an array of organizations in the homebuilding industries. The initiative was started in response to changes to the state's building codes which were intended to provide incentives for buildings to move away from natural gas as a source of heating. Initiative 2066 was approved by the voters following the November 5th,2024 general election.
