The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee recently advanced a bill that would require legislative authorization before the state imposes a carbon tax on industries or enters into a multistate program, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), that would impose such a tax.
The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a public comment process and submit a report to the General Assembly.
Gov. Tom Wolf issued an executive order last year, directing DEP to commence RGGI regulations.
RGGI would establish a regional cap on the amount of carbon dioxide pollution that power plants can emit and would also establish a carbon tax on fossil fuel users.
“Any carbon tax will ultimately be paid for by Pennsylvania residents and businesses,” Rep. Jim Struzzi’s (R-Indiana), who introduced the bill said. “Given Pennsylvania is already ahead of the carbon dioxide reduction goals established under the governor’s Climate Action Plan, why would we want to jeopardize thousands of Pennsylvania jobs and trigger significantly higher electricity rate increases when the existing competitive market has already achieved these gains? The action to enter RGGI would have serious ramifications on Pennsylvania businesses, jobs, energy prices, and future economic opportunities that are not being considered by the governor. ”
The bill moves to the full House for consideration.