Gov. Tom Corbett issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s climate change announcement:

“In Pennsylvania, we have a true all-of-the-above energy portfolio, with innovations in grid technology, nuclear power, clean-burning natural gas, coal, wind, solar and hydropower all working to fuel our economy and protect the environment.

“These market-based approaches are working, with the United States leading the world in reducing carbon emissions. In fact, greenhouse gas emissions are back to 1994 levels, an incredible accomplishment brought about by a free market.

“With our greenhouse gas emissions at the lowest they’ve been in nearly two decades, we know that much of the increase in global carbon emissions are attributable to growth in other countries such as China. This means that global warming requires a global response if there is to be any meaningful action that does not put our nation at an even greater competitive disadvantage.

“Here in Pennsylvania, nearly 63,000 men and women, including 8,100 miners, work in jobs supported by the coal industry. This proposal is not only a war on coal, as suggested by a White House climate adviser, but also a war on jobs.”

DEP Climate Change Committee

The Department of Environmental Protection’s Climate Change Advisory Committee is now reviewing more than 30 work plans making recommendations for legislative, regulatory and program changes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania.

The Committee reviewed a series of work plans relating to agricultural issues-- manure digesters, feeding policies and no till farming and discussed a series of others involving electric generation and use. 

The work plans being considered by the Committee include--

Act 129 Energy Use Reduction

Reduced Load Growth

Stabilized Load Growth

Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard

Sulfur Hexafluoride

Combined Heat and Power

Nuclear Capacity Uprates

Coal Mine Methane

Reducing Methane Leakage from Natural Gas Infrastructure

Reducing Lost & Unaccounted for Natural Gas in Distribution Systems

Waste-to-Energy Digesters

Waste-to-Energy Municipal Solid Waste

Biofuel Development and In-State Production Incentive Act

Manure Digesters

Fuels for Schools

Improved Efficiency at Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Diesel Anti-Idling

Increasing Public Transportation Ridership

Increasing Participation in Efficient Passenger Transit

Alternative Fueled Public Transit Fleets

Alternative Fueled Taxi Fleets

Foodshed Development Strategy

Management Intensive Grazing

No-till and Organic Row Crop Farming

Forest Protection Easements

Forestland Protection Initiative – Acquisition

Afforestation

Reforestation

Durable Wood Products

Urban Forestry

The next meeting of the Committee is October 8. For more information visit DEP’s Climate Change Advisory Committee webpag

NewsClips:

Corbett: Obama Climate Plan War On Coal

Reaction To Obama’s Climate Change Plan

Toomy: Obama Climate Change Full Of Bad Ideas

Covanta Energy Applauds Obama’s Climate Plan

Editorial: Obama’s Climate Monstrosity

Obama Summary Of Pennsylvania Climate Conditions

Covanta, Harrisburg Move Out Of Court To Settle Debt Lawsuit

7/1/2013