The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Consistency Applications and Monitoring and Verification Reports must include a signed verification statement and verification report from a state-accredited independent verifier.

Each independent verifier must be accredited by the RGGI state in which the offset project is located, although a RGGI state may acknowledge accreditation by another RGGI state.

Applying to a RGGI participating state for the award of CO₂ offset allowances is a four-step process:

Avoided Methane Emissions from Agricultural Manure Management offset projects capture and destroy methane from animal manure and organic food waste using anaerobic digesters. Emissions reductions are determined by estimating the potential methane emissions in tons of CO₂e that would have been emitted under a site-specific baseline scenario of uncontrolled anaerobic waste storage practices.

End-Use Energy Efficiency offset projects reduce building sector CO₂ emissions by reducing on-site combustion of natural gas, oil, or propane for end-use in existing or new commercial or residential building. Eligible new buildings are limited to new buildings that are designed to replace an existing building on the offset project site, or new buildings designed to be zero-net-energy buildings.

U.S. Forest Projects

U.S. forest offset projects sequester carbon through three project types that increase and/or conserve forest carbon stocks, increasing the removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere, or reducing or preventing the emissions of CO₂ to the atmosphere. The eligible project types include Reforestation, Improved Forest Management, and Avoided Conversion.

Sulfur Hexafluoride Emission Reduction projects prevent emissions of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) to the atmosphere from equipment in the electricity transmission and distribution sector, through capture and storage, recycling, or destruction. Emissions reductions are determined in relation to baseline year emissions, using a mass-balance method that accounts for all SF₆ used by the utility.

To qualify for the award CO₂ offset allowances, Sulfur Hexafluoride offset projects must:

Landfill Methane Capture and Destruction projects capture and destroy methane (CH₄) at solid waste landfills. Emissions reductions are determined based on avoided fugitive methane emissions that would have occurred at the landfill in the absence of the offset project, and are calculated based on metered methane collected from the landfill and destroyed through combustion by a flare, industrial combustion, or electric generation.

Follow the links below to zip-files containing expired versions of auction materials.

These documents are provided for reference only and should not be used to participate in upcoming auctions. The current versions of these documents are available on the Auction Materials page.

In May 2011, New Jersey's Governor Christie announced that New Jersey planned to cease its participation in RGGI. The RGGI participating states issued a joint statement in response, and many state governors also issued individual statements.

To provide certainty to the market, the RGGI states confirmed that RGGI CO₂ allowances issued by New Jersey would continue to be recognized for compliance purposes.

As of January 1, 2020, New Jersey has resumed participation in RGGI.