By AP
MINNEAPOLIS – MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - New recommendations by Midwestern governors for a carbon cap-and-trade system include aggressive reduction goals that could bring big changes to a region that relies heavily on coal and manufacturing.
The plan calls for a nearly 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade, and an 80 percent reduction by the middle of the century. That's from year 2005 levels.
The biggest polluters could get allowances to emit carbon and other greenhouse gases for a modest fee to help ease the cost of the transition to both industry and consumers.
The recommendations come after the governors of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin - along with the premier of Manitoba - agreed to establish reduction targets.