BALTIMORE, MD (February 7, 2013) - The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s first market-based regulatory program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, announced a proposed change to RGGI that will strengthen the program and is projected to reduce 2020 power sector CO2 pollution more than 45 percent below 2005 levels.

In today's announcement, RGGI stated that the new cap would preserve the significant reductions that have already occurred in power sector CO2 emissions, and drive further reductions. The new cap is projected to generate cumulative emission reductions in the range of 80-90 million tons by 2020.

RGGI is a cornerstone of Maryland's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020.