POSTPONED, But Expect It To Be Rescheduled: The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on May 21 to consider Senate Resolution 325 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) urging DEP to cease all action on developing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants.

The resolution says in part-- “The DEP's "cap and invest" regulation continues to proceed through the  regulatory process at a time when policymakers should be focused on reopening and rebuilding Pennsylvania's economy;

“At a time when policymakers should be focused on reopening and rebuilding Pennsylvania's economy, the Wolf Administration has authorized expenditures of several hundred thousand dollars to advance policies unrelated to the current pandemic emergency;

“Pennsylvanians deserve an Executive Branch that is 19 focused on their well-being in its totality, their health, safety and prosperity;

“During this time of a declared emergency, Pennsylvanians should not have to wonder what schemes their government is advancing while they struggle to make ends meet.”

The Committee action is scheduled after the DEP Citizens Advisory Council defeated a motion to recommend DEP move its proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program regulation to the Environmental Quality Board on May 19.  Read more here.

On May 7, DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee took no position on the proposal, after voting 9 to 9 with one abstention, on a motion to recommend DEP present the proposed regulation to the EQB for action.  Read more here.

The meeting will be held online via Zoom starting at 11:00 a.m.  Instructions for joining the meeting will be posted on the Committee’s webpage.

Senate/House Bills Have Not Moved

In November of last year, Senate and House Republicans introduced legislation that would take away DEP’s authority to adopt any carbon pollution reduction program in response to the Governor’s Executive Order.

Neither of the bills-- Senate Bill 950 (Pittman-R-Indiana) and House Bill 2025 (Struzzi-R-Indiana)-- have seen any legislative action, but they have been the subject of multiple hearings, information meetings and briefings.  Read more here.

Additional 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 met with the Citizens Advisory Council on November 19 to outline the process for developing the regulations needed to implement the program.

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.

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

DEP again met with the Citizens Advisory Council and the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee April 23 on the proposal to hear a presentation on the latest modeling results.

The Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee met on May 7 to discuss the proposal and voted 9 to 9, with one abstention, to not approve a motion to recommend DEP go to the Environmental Quality Board with the proposal.

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

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

Gov. Wolf’s Executive Order directs DEP to present a proposed regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants to the Environmental Quality Board in July.

For more information on RGGI, visit DEP’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

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:

DEP Citizens Advisory Council Votes Against Moving Proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants To EQB

Sen. Yaw: NY/NJ Rejection Of PA Natural Gas Pipeline Aids Foreign Producers, At Same Time Governor Wants To Join RGGI

EQB Invites Comments On Regulations Controlling VOCs/Methane From Existing Oil, Gas Operations

DEP Air Quality Advisory Committee Takes No Position On Proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants

PA AFL-CIO Encourages Caution In Consideration Of PA RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants

U.S. EIA Expects Coal-Fired Electric Generation To Fall By 25% In 2020; 11% Increase In Renewables; Natural Gas Flat

48 Republican House Members Sign Letter Urging Governor To Halt  Efforts To Join Regional Carbon Pollution Reduction Program

18 Senate Republicans Ask Gov. Wolf To Withdrawn His Executive Order Asking DEP To Establish A Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants

Senate, House Members Announce Bills To Take Away DEP’s Authority To Adopt Any Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program; Offer No Alternative To Reduce Emissions

New PA Poll: 72% Of Pennsylvania Voters Say It's Important Their Electricity Comes From Energy Not Creating Carbon Emissions

Poll Finds 79% Of Pennsylvania Voters Support Limits On Carbon Pollution From Power Plants

[Posted: May 20, 2020]

5/25/2020