DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council and the Air Quality Advisory Committee are scheduled to hold a virtual joint meeting April 23 starting at 1:00 p.m. on the proposed initiative to reduce carbon pollution from power plants (RGGI).

DEP is expected to provide a presentation on the modeling results associated with the proposal to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

The meeting is open to the public. Instructions on how to join the virtual meeting are posted on DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee webpage.

Background

Gov. Wolf signed an Executive Order in October directing DEP to join the interstate Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative through a regulation adopted by the Environmental Quality Board.

RGGI is a market-based cap-and-invest by northeast states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

DEP released a draft regulation establishing a proposed cap-and-invest program on January 30, 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.  The April 2 meeting should fill those gaps.

DEP first reviewed it with the Air Quality Advisory Committee on February 13, DEP’s Citizens Advisory Committee on February 18 and the Climate Change Advisory Committee on February 25.

DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell also said the agency has been holding meetings with individual stakeholders on the proposal.

In addition, there have been hearings and information meetings in the Senate and House  on the proposal.  Click Here for more background on Senate and House reviews.

For more information on RGGI, visit DEP’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative webpage.  Click Here for a copy of DEP’s draft RGGI regulation.

More details will be available on DEP’s Air Quality Advisory Committee webpage.  Questions should be directed to Kirit Dalai by calling 717-772-3436 or sending email to: kdalal@pa.gov.

For more information on the Citizens Advisory Council, visit DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council webpage.  Questions should be directed to Keith Salador, Executive Director, 717-787-8171 or ksalador@pa.gov.

(Photo: Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant closed as result of competition with natural gas.)

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