North American Windpower: Illinois And New Jersey Governors Plan To Reduce GHGs

by NAW Staff on Thursday 15 February 2007

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, D-Ill., and Gov. Jon S. Corzine, D-N.J., have set new goals for each of the states they serve to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Blagojevich has issued a statewide goal to reduce the production of GHGs to 1990 levels by 2020 and 60% below 1990 levels by 2050. In order to implement these goals, the governor's Climate Change Advisory Group - comprising business leaders, labor unions, the energy and agricultural industries, scientists, and environmental and consumer groups from throughout the state - will meet over a six-month period to identify measures to cost-effectively reduce GHGs.

In related news, Corzine has signed an executive order to adopt proactive goals similar to Blagojevich's. The order calls for decreasing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 - an approximate 20% cutback - followed by a further reduction of emissions to 80% below 2006 levels by 2050.

To reach this goal in New Jersey, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection will work with the Board of Public Utilities, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Community Affairs and other stakeholders to evaluate methods to meet and exceed the 2020 target reductions. This evaluation will be done in conjunction with the state's Energy Master Plan, which will incorporate the new GHG reduction goal.

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