The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold hearings April 8 and April 14 on the potential impacts of joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reduce carbon pollution from power plants.

The Committee hopes to collect information on RGGI and the potential impacts on Pennsylvania’s energy portfolio, particularly on the jobs it sustains, including impacts on consumers, utilization of Pennsylvania’s energy portfolio by current RGGI participants and the overall implementation of carbon reduction plans in the state will all be discussed.

The hearings will be held--

-- April 8 in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

-- April 14 in Indiana County (Location TBA) from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

Hearings are typically webcast or available on video on the Committee’s webpage.

The Committee canceled hearings on RGGI planned from March 18 and March 25 in Harrisburg due to coronavirus concerns.

Background

In October, Gov. Wolf issued an executive order directing DEP to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative through adoption of a regulation by the Environmental Quality Board.

The Senate Environmental Committee held a general briefing on RGGI October 22 that included DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell, former PUC Chair Glen Thomas and Chris Hoagland, RGGI Program Manager for Maryland.

At the beginning of February, DEP released a draft proposed regulation outlining most of the provisions needed to join RGGI, including provisions specifically tailored to Pennsylvania. 

However, it did not include key provisions related to the overall cap on carbon emissions and how much the cap would be reduced each year. 

DEP is still completing the modeling needed to fill those holes, but it may not be completed until the Air Quality Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on April 16 for the second time on the proposal.

In addition to the Air Quality Advisory Committee, DEP has been presenting the draft proposal to a variety of its advisory committees to get feedback, including DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Committee.

The agency has also been meeting with a wide variety of stakeholder groups at all levels of the agency.

In November, Senate and House Republicans announced legislation to take away DEP’s authority to adopt any greenhouse gas reduction program like RGGI or the Regional Transportation Climate Initiative addressing carbon emission reductions from vehicle fuels.

The companion bills are Senate Bill 950 (Pittman-R-Indiana) and House Bill 2025 (Struzzi-R-Indiana). Note the April 14 hearing is in Indiana County.

On January 29 the Senate Environmental and Transportation Committees held a hearing on the impact of the proposed Regional Transportation Climate Initiative on Pennsylvania.  DEP Secretary McDonnell said the details of the proposal as it would apply to Pennsylvania are still being developed and modeled and no decision had been made to join that program.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has held a series of hearings and information meetings on the RGGI proposal and climate change, the most recent being on February 5.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.   Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7305 or sending email to: senatorsantarsiero@pasenate.com.

Related Articles - Energy

Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant Owner Rescinds Closure Notice Based On Gov. Wolf's Proposal To Join RGGI Regional Climate Initiative

Senate, House Policy Committees To Hold Hearing March 25 On Grow PA Infrastructure, Education, Health Care Innovations

Court: Indiana County Twp. Has Right To Defend Its Prohibition Of A Drilling Wastewater Injection Well Using The Environmental Rights Amendment

Dueling Press Conferences For/Against Signing Bill Providing Taxpayer Funded Subsidies For Using Natural Gas In Manufacturing

Senate Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing On Pipeline Investment Program March 24

DEP Has Scheduled 3 Hearings On Mariner East II Pipeline Erosion, Water Encroachment Permits In Chester, Delaware Counties

DEP Issues Water Quality Certification For Adelphia Pipeline Project

PUC To Invite Comments On Phase IV Of Act 129 Energy Efficiency Program

Carnegie Mellon University Energy Week March 23-27 In Pittsburgh

Solar Energy Farm Generation Reaches 35 Million Kilowatt Hours At Pocono Raceway

Rebates Still Available For Purchase Of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

DEP Accepting Applications For Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebates

[Posted: March 12, 2020]

3/16/2020