Dr. Gabriel and His Colleagues Released Report on Maryland Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Prof. Steven Gabriel (Civil Engineering) along with colleagues Prof. Matthias Ruth (Public Policy) and Kim Ross (Public Policy), officially released UMD's study of whether the State of Maryland should join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This work, commissioned by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) also involved Resources for the Future, The Johns Hopkins University, and Towson University as part of the research team. The purpose of RGGI is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the participating northeastern and mid-Atlantic states by setting up a cap-and-trade system for carbon allowances in the power generation sector.

The results of the study are available on the web page for the Center for Integrative Environmental Research (CIER) and indicate that emissions reductions can be obtained with overall slightly beneficial economic results as well. It is anticipated that the report is to be reviewed by the governor's office as part of the decision for Maryland to join RGGI. Selected media coverage of this report and its findings can be found at:

Southern Maryland Online

The Baltimore Sun

Reuters

UM NEWSDESK

Published February 5, 2007