By Colleen Marshall

Staff writer

    Combating global warming on a national level and
Maine’s role in becoming a more energy efficient state was the subject
of a recent climate change forum, hosted by Sen. Phil Bartlett.

    Bartlett (D-Gorham, Scarborough, Westbrook) spoke to
20 people at Scarborough Town Hall, presenting an overview of the
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) bill, which seeks to limit
CO2 emissions in Maine. Bartlett sponsors the bill, along with District
35 Rep. Ted Koffman.

    “We can start to make a real difference in every
community, in every state,” Bartlett said. “We can help to tackle this
problem.”

    During his 30-minute PowerPoint presentation,
Bartlett said when he first began working on an energy policy plan two
years ago – it was a battle to be heard within the Legislature.
However, thanks to former Vice President Al Gore’s popular documentary
on global warming “An Inconvenient Truth” and an overall increase in
awareness, dramatic changes have been seen in the debate.

    “This is something that is a concern for both sides of the aisle,” Bartlett said.

    The RGGI bill has three main goals – to lower the
cost of energy to Maine consumers, reduce the volatility of energy
prices, and minimize the impact of energy production on the
environment. Bartlett said the plan is slated to be a cooperative
initiative between 10 northeastern states with a mission to reduce
“global warming pollution” from large power plants.

    Other states participating in the RGGI plan are New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware,
New Jersey, New York and Maryland.

    The RGGI bill is slated to use a cap and trade
system, which would set an emissions cap for power plants, but would
allow companies to trade carbon credits to enable them to meet their
emission requirements. Bartlett said the free market system provides
flexibility to companies to reduce emissions in a cost-effective
manner, while providing an incentive to efficient plants to sell their
credits to other companies. Permits would cost between $3 and $7.
Proceeds from the sale of the credits would be put in a trust, and used
for energy efficiency efforts in order to reduce energy costs for
consumers.

    He said the cap and trade system is expected to
reduce the pollution by 10 percent below current levels by 2019.

    “If we did nothing, it would increase by 20 percent,
so by reducing the levels by 10 percent, what we are doing is reducing
it by a total of 30 percent,” he said. “So it’s a pretty significant
improvement.”

    Members of the Utilities and Energy Committee, where
Bartlett serves as chairman, unanimously endorsed the bill during an
April 27 vote.

    On May 1 the Natural Resources and Utilities and
Energy committees in a rare joint meeting, voted a combined 12-9 in
favor of a slightly amended version of L.D. 1851, the bill that would
allow Maine to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

    Modest amendments were made during committee work
sessions. The final amended version of the bill added more specific
deadlines and dates for implementation.

The Natural Resources Committee registered a vote of 8-5 in support of
the amended version. The Utilities Committee voted 5-4, with two
members missing. Bartlett and Senator Doug Smith, (R-Piscataquis) sit
on both committees, so their votes were only registered once, as
members of the Natural Resources Committee. The votes were mostly down
party lines, with Democrats supporting the bill with the amendment and
Republicans opposing it.

The RGGI bill will now go to the entire Legislature for consideration.

    Bartlett said he has been speaking at various groups
throughout the state about the RGGI bill, as well as overall ways to
help residents become more energy efficient in their homes and
businesses.

    “The only way we are going to solve the problem is
if everyone gets involved, steps up and works to improve the
situation,” Bartlett said.

Following his presentation, the senator fielded questions for a half
hour, with topics ranging from oil heating in homes to the
effectiveness of energy efficient lightbulbs. He commended two
Scarborough High School students who questioned what they could do as
members of a younger generation.

    “There are a number of things you can do,” he said.
“Contact your Legislators and let them know how important these issues
are. Write letters to the editor, and work with your administrators to
put a plan into place,” he said.