On March 18th RGGI had its third auction of CO2 allowances. Overall the auction brought in $117,248,629.80. The auction sold not only 2009 allowances at $3.51 per ton and also sold some 2012 allowances at $3.05 per ton. Of the total proceeds, NJ will receive $15,909,991.11 for the 2009 allowances and 864,058.90 for the 2012 allowances.
How will the $16,774,050.01 be spent in NJ? NJ enacted the Global Warming Solutions Fund (2007 c. 340) back in the very beginning of 2008. The statute provides on how the funds received from the RGGI auction will be allocated.
Sixty percent of the receipts will be sent to the NJ Economic Development Authority. The EDA is to provide grants or other financial assistance to commercial, institutional and industrial groups’ implementation of energy efficiency projects and installation of efficient electric generation facilities which could, but does not have to include renewable energy systems.
Twenty percent of the funds are to be dedicated to the reduction of electricity demand or costs of electricity for low and moderate income residential customers.
Ten percent goes to DEP for support of local government’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts can include energy efficiency, renewable energy and land use programs.
Lastly the remaining ten percent is to be used by the DEP for forest and tidal marsh stewardship and restoration programs.
Hopefully, NJ takes these funds and uses them to truly achieve maximum results of reducing energy consumption through effective energy efficiency programs and the promotion of renewable energy. The next auctions are scheduled for June 17th and Sept. 9th. Beyond that may be an issue as a recent lawsuit by Indeck Energy is challenging NY’s RGGI program. Are other companies going to follow? In a future post I will take a look at the Indeck suit.