NJ to pull out of greenhouse gas initiative

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Republican Gov. Chris Christie says New Jersey will exit a 10-state regional greenhouse gas reduction program by the end of the year.

Christie says the program is ineffective at combatting global warming.

“The whole system is not working as it was intended to work. It is a failure,” the governor said.

The announcement thrilled conservatives, who have been after governors in Northeast states to abandon the effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions by having companies pay for their fossil fuel output.

New Jersey has been in the program reduce carbon dioxide pollution since 2008.

Besides New Jersey, participating states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.