On Tuesday, the Department of Environmental Protection told the Climate Change Advisory Committee it would not recommend the Committee debate or vote on a plan that considers increasing the state's renewable energy law, the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, further noting that it would not be including information in Pennsylvania's next Climate Action Plan about how the existing AEPS law reduces electricity prices for consumers.

"While other states in the region and around the country recognize the multiple benefits of renewable energy and have increased the requirements in their state portfolios, DEP is telling us upfront that they won't consider the idea of increasing renewable energy in Pennsylvania," said Christina Simeone, director of the PennFuture Energy Center and Chair of the CCAC. "This administration chooses to ignore the benefits renewable energy offers, including greenhouse gas reductions, cost reductions for electricity customers, and economic development opportunities. The administration claims they have an all-of-the-above policy yet their actions prove contrary."

Increasing zero carbon renewable energy, such as wind and solar, are typically key elements of any strategy to address climate change.  Not only do these technologies benefit the environment, they create jobs and drive economic growth.

In 2012, Pennsylvania added about 550 MW of wind, a significant portion of that total developed by Pennsylvania companies using turbines manufactured right here in the Keystone State.

The CCAC was established by law in 2008 and is charged with making recommendations to DEP on greenhouse gas reduction strategies and other actions to address climate change in Pennsylvania.

Earlier this year, DEP staff introduced a plan to the CCAC that considered a modest increase in renewable energy from the existing 8 percent standard to a 10.5 percent standard. DEP later withdrew the plan for internal review and informed the CCAC on Tuesday they would not be re-introducing it.

The revised Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Work Plan being considered by the Committee, however, shows a dramatic increase in greenhouse gas emission reductions for the existing AEPS standards through 2020.

Copies of 40 sector work plans being reviewed by the Committee and the recommendations they contain for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are available on the Committee webpage.

NewsClips:

DEP Publishes One Climate Report, 2nd One Due

Penn State Climate Scientist Lawsuit Spotlights Opposition

Op-Ed: Climate Change Paused?

Incentives To Save Electricity Grow As Plants Shut Down

PPL Kentucky Utilities To Build Cleaner Power Plants

Editorial: Coal Industry’s Problem Is Not Obama

10/14/2013