Statement on RGGI Decision Appeal

HARRISBURG – Following the announcement by the Shapiro Administration that it will be appealing the order of the Commonwealth Court to reverse Pennsylvania’s entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the Clean Power PA coalition made the following statement:

“We are pleased with Governor Shapiro's decision to appeal the Commonwealth Court decision regarding Pennsylvania's entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Governor Shapiro has maintained that a clean energy plan for Pennsylvania must meet his comprehensive test to 1. protect and create energy jobs; 2. take real action to address climate change; and 3. ensure reliable, affordable power for consumers in the long term. The Governor also convened a diverse RGGI Working Group – following through on his campaign promise to hear from more stakeholders – and that Working Group came to an agreement on the vital need for Pennsylvania to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and a consensus that the best approach for doing so is a market-based power sector carbon pollution cap-and-invest program that generates revenue to support the Commonwealth’s energy transition. RGGI is the obvious vehicle to meet all the criteria that Governor Shapiro has laid out while advancing the unanimous priorities of the RGGI Working Group.

“The Commonwealth Court's decision was misguided, and we believe the state Supreme Court will reverse the order. Some members of the state legislature have spent years and considerable taxpayer dollars obstructing RGGI while doing nothing to aid their own constituents already dealing with energy transition. It’s time for these legislators to genuinely engage in a conversation about positioning Pennsylvania as a leader in the energy economy of the future, and for them to embrace the long-term economic opportunities that joining to RGGI will present for their constituents.”

We applaud Governor Shapiro’s action to preserve the administrative powers of the executive branch. We also echo his sentiment that Pennsylvania needs action-either via RGGI, or a reasonable alternative, to preserve environmental sustainability across the state. The League calls on PA Legislators to put together a package which moves PA forward, or withdraw their opposition to Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI.