Sen. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) this week introduced Senate Bill 175 which would prohibit DEP from adopting methane emission regulations for the oil and gas industry or any source that are more stringent than federal standards.

“Over the past year, the EPA has announced several significant new regulatory requirements to control methane emissions,” said Sen. Reschenthaler.  “However, efforts in Pennsylvania to expand standards and requirements beyond those mandated by the federal government continue to place our state at a competitive economic disadvantage.

“These actions harm job creation and discourage capital investment across the Commonwealth, all while providing little if any tangible environmental benefit for our communities,” added Sen. Reschenthaler.  “Pennsylvania job creators and those in our communities that depend on them would benefit significantly from avoiding a duplicative, confusing, and costly patchwork of standards.”

Of course, what happens if there is no federal standard for methane emissions from oil and gas operations?

A sponsor summary of the bill is available.

NewsClips:

Thompson: Legislature Adds A Climate Change Caucus

PA Dems Organizing Against Attacks On Climate Interests

Delaware Estuary Scientists Fear Trump Actions Will Accelerate Sea-Level Rise

TreeVitalize Grants Help Tree Planting Projects Grow In Luzerne County

Climate Change: Is Pennsylvania The New Alabama?

Casey Calls For More Marches, Activism During Climate Speech

U.N. Ambassador Talks Climate Change At Wilkes U

WSJ: Trump Aims To Reverse Obama’s Climate Agenda

Trump Backs Off Plans To Scrub Climate Pages From EPA Website

CDC’s Canceled Climate Change Conference Back On

Rogue Twitter Accounts Spring Up To Fight Trump On Climate

Green Energy Features Big Among Trump’s Top 50 Infrastructure Projects

California Aims For 40% Reduction In Greenhouse Gases By 2030

[Posted: Jan. 26, 2017]

1/30/2017