HARRISBURG – In a party-line vote, the state Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23), today approved sending a letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) urging its review of concerns expressed by numerous commentators, including those from organized labor leaders, business leaders and elected officials over the past year who have weighed in against the “CO2 Budget Trading Program,” proposed regulation – #7-559 (IRRC #3274).
If approved by the Environmental Quality Board (EQB), the regulation would enter Pennsylvania into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a compact between several Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states that impose a carbon tax on electricity production and require fossil fuel generators to purchase allowances.
Participating RGGI states, through legislative or regulatory action, agree to implement the Initiative through a tax and spend program involving CO2 emitting electric power plants. Given the potential negative economic impacts of any carbon tax program, during the 2019-2020, the Senate Environmental Committee also advanced legislation establishing a process for transparency, public comment and submission to the General Assembly.
For a copy of the letter, click here.
Senator Yaw is Chairman of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
CONTACT: Nick Troutman (717) 787-3280