New Jersey, Virginia Take Steps Toward Joining East Coast Carbon Market

"As Trump rolls back federal climate policies, states are taking up the challenge to control greenhouse gas emissions themselves."

"With federal policies to control greenhouse gas emissions in limbo, more states are taking steps toward putting a price on carbon pollution.

New Jersey moved closer to re-joining the East Coast's carbon cap-and-trade system this week when the state Senate's Environment and Energy Committee passed a bill to restore the state's role in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or RGGI, the nation's first cap-and-trade program, launched in 2009.

Newly elected Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has pledged to support the bill. His predecessor, Chris Christie, had pulled the state out as he positioned himself to run for the Republican presidential nomination."

Phil McKenna reports for InsideClimate News January 26, 2018.