By The Associated Press

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Thursday that she will sign a multistate agreement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the Northeast.

Her decision comes after officials from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts decided after a conference call Wednesday that they weren’t prepared to sign the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an agreement among nine states to cut greenhouse gases in the Northeast.

Rell, in a written statement, called the pact a “historic milestone” that addresses climate change issues while moving the region down the path of energy independence.

“The agreement creates incentives that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and help free our economy from the price volatility of world oil and gas markets,” she said. “The agreement is also structured in a manner that protects consumers from sharp increases in energy costs.”

The other states involved in the initiative are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware and New York.

The draft proposal calls for utility emissions to be frozen at current levels through 2015, and then requires a 10 percent reduction by 2020. It also would create a market for greenhouse gases, allowing those who reduce emissions to sell excess “credits” to those who can’t cut quickly enough.

Some critics are concerned the plan could drastically increase electricity rates because it would force companies to build new plants, or convert them to natural gas.

In Rhode Island, environmentalists criticized Gov. Don Carcieri for balking at the deal.

Carcieri spokesman Jeff Neal did not immediately return calls for comment on Thursday, but he said earlier that Carcieri was concerned about the costs of the plan.

And Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has said he was concerned the plan did not include a cap on the amount power plants would have to pay if they surpass emissions limits.

Matt Auten, an advocate for the Rhode Island Public Interest Research group, said, “We think there’s a huge opportunity to move forward on global warming and put Rhode Island on the map. And unfortunately, it seems like Rhode Island is going to miss that opportunity by dropping out on this really important regional program.”

Clean Water Action and the Conservation Law Foundation said in a statement Thursday that they were disappointed with Carcieri.

“We urge Governor Carcieri to get on board with the other northeastern states and sign on to the RGGI agreement,” Cynthia Giles of the Conservation Law Foundation said.

Chris Wilhite, campaign organizer for Clean Water Action, said the plan was “really set to be an excellent opportunity as a national model for other states to start thinking about ways to cut global warming pollution.

“And for Gov. Carcieri to drop out of this, it’s a real problem,” he said.

AP-ES-12-15-05 1945EST