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Local State Senator Scott Hutchinson signed a letter asking a regulatory commission to suspend implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in Pennsylvania.
RGGI is an agreement between several northeastern and mid-Atlantic states that impose a carbon tax on power generation and require fossil fuel producers to buy allowances. Participating States, through legislative or regulatory action, agree to implement the initiative through a taxation and spending program involving CO2 emitting power plants.
Hutchinson, R-Butler / Clarion / Venango / Warren, is one of seven state senators to sign a letter to the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission asking the group to reject a proposed final settlement recently approved by the Environmental Quality Board. Earlier this year, the State Department of Environmental Protection ignored the recommendation of the Independent Regulatory Review Board to delay RGGI for a year to allow for increased engagement with industries and communities affected.
The letter says the rejection of the IRRC could pave the way for a more constructive dialogue between the governor’s office and the General Assembly to consider sensible energy policy reforms that do not harm our economy and do not harm our people. voters.
Senators approved the letter at a 36-minute meeting of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee earlier this week, with approval coming 7-4 depending on the party.
The Republicans’ disagreement with RGGI is nothing new, as the majority party has been feuding with Governor Tom Wolf over the issue for nearly two years. Republicans say the governor has no right to impose an energy tax without legislative approval and point to the economic costs RGGI would impose on power producers and taxpayers, while Wolf says executive action and regulations are needed to pay for Pennsylvania’s climate change plan.
“I would like to encourage my colleagues to vote yes in favor of the letter”, said Senator Scott Martin, R-Lancaster. “Frankly when I see the economic impact of what is being proposed which can lead to a potential 18% increase in utility tariffs on low income people, middle income people, I find it terribly scary that the elected representatives of the people here in their home, who have approved every interstate deal that Pennsylvania has been involved in throughout its history, that these discussions do not go through the legislature, with more than a half – billion dollars at stake, is very disturbing to me, and the precedent it sets is equally disturbing.
Senator Katie Muth, D-Berks / Chester / Montgomery, asked if the committee would review legislation to deal with Pennsyvlania’s energy future. Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Bradford / Lycoming / Sullivan / Susquehanna / Union, and majority chair of the committee, said legislation has been introduced to address some of the issues raised by Muth, but Muth said more should be done.
“I think I would just ask this committee to consider a comprehensive plan that puts Pennsylvania in a safer space in terms of public health and economic relief,” he added. she said. “There are communities that have been left behind in the extractive industry. There are people who are suffering as we speak of living next to radioactive waste in hydraulic fracturing landfills. There is contamination in the Pennsylvania water supply that people cannot drink or are drinking horrible things that should not be in their drinking water from the various processes, from starting to drill a well. until the waste is eliminated. There is a mess to clean up. What I’m hearing is that this committee is only looking at carbon capture, which is incredibly expensive. I would be really interested to see a more complete presentation of how we are going to put this forward. … Time is running out for us to act urgently to bring Pennsylvania’s part in the solution to climate change. This committee has done nothing so far to do so. I will commit right now to come here every day to find out how to put Pennsylvania on a better path forward. “
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