Last week, four DEP advisory committees expressed their support for the final version of DEP’s regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

This is a reversal of positions some of these groups took on the earlier, proposed version of the regulation.

The groups included---

-- DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee voted 10 to 8 to 1 to recommend DEP move the regulation to the Environmental Quality Board for final action [had a tie vote on the proposed version];

-- DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council voted 8 to 5 to 1 to recommend DEP move the regulation to the Environmental Quality Board for final action [opposed the proposed version];

-- DEP’s Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee voted 4 to 3 to recommend DEP move the regulation to the Environmental Quality Board for final action [opposed the proposed version]; and

-- DEP’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board voted to approve a motion to express their support for DEP’s final Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Board recommended development of equity principles to be included in the final version and DEP did develop those principles and they will be included with their proposal.

Senate and House members opposed to the regulation to reduce carbon pollution from power plants had used the fact DEP’s advisory committees opposed the earlier, proposed version of the regulation as a key talking point against the program.

The actions by DEP’s advisory committees this week obviously takes away that talking point.

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

Related Articles:

-- DEP Announces Equity Principles To Guide Investments Thru Proposed Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

-- Gov. Wolf: 2021 Climate Impacts Report Projects Pennsylvania Will Be 5.9° F Warmer by Midcentury, Precipitation To Increase, Targets Areas to Reduce Risk

-- DEP Posts Final-Form Reg. Cutting Carbon Pollution From Power Plants For 2 Advisory Committee Meetings [May 4, 2021]

Related Article:

-- Delta Institute Invites Comments From Individuals, Local Governments On How To Invest Revenue From DEP's Proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program [RGGI]

[Posted: May 20, 2021]

5/24/2021