An attempt to prevent Governor Christie from taking New Jersey out  of the nation's largest regional effort to reduce greenhouse gases  is making its way through Trenton. 

But the Christie administration says the Legislature doesn't have  the authority to keep the state in the Regional Greenhouse Gas  Initiative, a 10-state pact that is designed to reduce fossil fuel  use and promote renewable energy initiatives through a  cap-and-trade program.

The package of bills was approved by the Senate environment  committee this week while identical bills were greenlighted by a  similar Assembly panel last week. Supporters say a bill passed by  both houses in 2007 and signed into law by Gov. Jon Corzine called  the Global Warming Response Act requires New Jersey to join RGGI. 

Christie plans to remove New Jersey from the program by year's end. 

"By disregarding the intent of the legislature, which required New  Jersey to be a member of RGGI, Governor Christie is ignoring the  will of the people," said Assemblyman John McKeon, D-South Orange,  head of the Assembly environment committee and a primary sponsor of  the bills. 

Administration officials say the act allows the state to join RGGI  but doesn't compel it to. 

"There's nothing in the act that prohibits us from leaving," said  Larry Ragonese, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental  Protection. The decision rests solely with Christie, he said. 

Regardless of the legal wrangling, Christie would likely veto any  bill seeking reinstatement to RGGI. 

...

A report released Thursday by Environment New Jersey said clean  energy investments from RGGI will lead to nearly $90 million in  energy savings and contribute $209 million in economic activity  growth in New Jersey. 

The Assembly and Senate have until next Thursday to vote on the  bills before this year's legislative session closes.