Pennsylvania Reps. James Struzzi (R-Indiana) and Dallas Kephart (R-Clearfield) recently introduced legislation that would eliminate Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regulations and prevent similar proposals from moving forward in the state without legislative approval.
In a memorandum to fellow legislators, the two law makers said their legislation would correct actions made by former Gov. Tom Wolf to join the RGGI – a multi-state effort to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector. The initiative includes the surrounding states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Wolf joined the initiative without legislative approval, the memorandum said, and put at risk jobs associated with closing coal-fired electric generating units and natural gas plants. The initiative also puts millions of dollars in local and state tax revenue at risk, the legislators said.
“We have already seen the start of this come to pass as some coal-fired plants have closed in our state, costing our communities dearly,” the legislators wrote. “The jobs that we lose with RGGI in place go directly to our neighboring states who are not a part of RGGI, and our remaining natural gas-fired plants will be put at a competitive disadvantage because of our participation. And further, our participation in RGGI risks increasing electric bills on our constituents who are already feeling the impact of high prices.”
The state’s participation in RGGI was blocked through a preliminary injunction after Republican legislators sued in district court saying the regulation was a tax that could only be initiated by the General Assembly.
Prior to taking office Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had concerns about the impact RGGI would have on consumer prices, the lawmakers said. However, Shapiro appealed the court’s injunction to the Supreme Court leaving the RGGI regulation on the books pending the appeal.
Struzzi and Kephart said their legislation would effectively eliminate RGGI regulation. The legislators said their legislation would save on legal fees and save consumers money by protecting consumer interests in the energy generating industry.