AUGUSTA (AP) - A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Thursday showcased a carbon cap-and-trade strategy that would have Maine fulfill its role as part of a Northeast regional effort to control greenhouse gas emissions.

The bill aims to help reduce global warming pollution in the region from power plants by 10 percent by 2019.

Maine is one of 10 states that have signed onto the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation's first multistate program to take steps to reverse global warming.

The proposal sets annual ceilings on carbon dioxide emissions and calls for an auction of carbon credits for each ton emitted by electric power plants. Credits could be traded by plant owners region-wide.

"This is a market-driven approach," state Rep. Ted Koffman, D-Bar Harbor, said at a State House news conference. "We know it works. It's been proven."

A model carbon emissions rule has been established for the RGGI. While each participating state must conform to its basic principles, each state may design portions to address its own level of emissions, supporters of the legislation said.

The other RGGI states are Rhode Island, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont. Some of the states must pass legislation and others can adopt their rules without enacting special laws.

Gov. John Baldacci, who has signed on to RGGI for Maine, plans to submit a separate bill of his own to address greenhouse gas emissions.

Several environmental groups showed up in support of the bill that was presented Thursday, saying it promoted energy efficiency. They said that together, the RGGI states are the seventh largest source of global-warming pollution in the world, with much of it coming from power plants.

"The reality is that states are leading Washington on global warming," said Melissa Carey of Environmental Defense.

The governors of five western states - Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington - have also agreed to develop a regional target to lower greenhouse gases.

In Maine, the Industrial Energy Consumer Group said it supports the overall concept of the bill proposed Thursday but objects to the cost to ratepayers.

Supporters said the bill will help to reduce energy costs.