On October 24, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, area lawmakers and environmental officials at the Governor’s office in Manhattan to unveil a regional “cap and trade” program that will cut greenhouse gases emitted by New York power plants.

Under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), power plants in 10 Northeastern states, including New York, would have to buy enough carbon credits or allowances (one allowance per ton of emissions) to cover its emissions in a flexible, market-based system similar to those used to combat acid rain. When fully implemented, it’s expected RGGI will achieve a 16 percent reduction in emissions. In a major departure from previous programs, the state will simply not give away allowances to power plants. From the start, companies will have to buy allowances through an auction for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit.

“Bravo to Governor Spitzer for striking this blow against global warming and greenhouse gas emissions—and for recognizing that with a little courage, being ‘green’ is much easier than people think,” said BP Markowitz. “Here in cutting-edge Brooklyn, we’re proud of our solar-powered subway terminal at Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island, our co-gen co-ops in Clinton Hill, our huge new green roof in Red Hook, our food justice efforts in East New York—the kinds of sustainable initiatives that have the rest of the country saying, ‘Brooklyn, NYC, and New York State—how green it is!’”