Massachusetts governor withdraws state from carbon emissions reduction program

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker announced Thursday that he is withdrawing  Massachusetts from a multi-state compact to reduce the transportation industry's carbon emissions.

According to the Washington Examiner, Baker justified the state's withdrawal from the Transportation Climate Initiative due to the fact other states were not pulling their own weight.

"The Baker-Polito administration always maintained the commonwealth would only move forward with TCI if multiple states committed, and, as that does not exist, the Transportation Climate Initiative is no longer the best solution for the commonwealth's transportation and environmental needs," said Baker's press secretary Terry MacCormack to local news station WBUR.

Despite withdrawing from the agreement, Baker points to all the different areas in which his administration has made headway concerning transportation and fuel efficiency. 

"Massachusetts' strong economic recovery makes the commonwealth better positioned to upgrade its roads, bridges and public transportation systems, while also making investments to reduce transportation emissions, deliver equitable transportation solutions and benefits and meet the state’s ambitious climate goals," MacCormack added in his statement.

According to the program's website, TCI sets carbon emissions caps for transportation fuel and requires suppliers to purchase "allowances."

Connecticut previously announced that it too was backing out of the agreement, citing higher gas prices.

The goal of TCI was to reduce emissions by 26% between 2022 and 2032.

Originally 12 states plus the District of Columbia expressed interest in participating in TCI. However, only Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and D.C. eventually signed the agreement.