Concord – Gov. John Lynch joined governors from six other Northeast states yesterday to support a regional environmental policy known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

“New Hampshire is already a national leader in addressing climate change and air pollution from power plants,” Lynch said. “The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative offers us a way to work with our neighboring states to reduce pollution even further.”

The initiative would reduce carbon dioxide pollution through a cap-and-trade program, which would cap emissions at power plants and set up a market-based trading program to achieve the lowest possible compliance costs.

Lynch noted that Rep. Larry Ross, R-Peterborough, chairman of the Science, Technology and Energy Committee, has sponsored a bill this year to create a study committee that could lead to a bill implementing RGGI in 2007.

The state would participate with Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont in a regional cap-and-trade program that uses emissions credits or allowances to limit total emissions.

A draft model regulation for public review is due early next year. Each state will then start work on legislative or regulatory approvals needed to adopt the program.

Beginning in 2009, emissions of carbon dioxide from regional power plants would be capped at current levels — approximately 121 million tons annually — until 2015. A 10 percent cut in emissions would phase in over the following four years.

“It is a huge step for this state to join this regional effort. It’s a milestone for RGGI for New Hampshire and other Northeast states to commit to it,” said Jan Pendlebury, director of the state’s National Environmental Trust chapter.

Daryl Burtnett, state director of the Nature Conservancy, praised Lynch’s action. He said, “The Northeast will be leading our nation in taking a substantial leap forward to reduce global warming emissions.”