Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) and Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) announced the introduction of legislation \that would require Pennsylvania to take action on measuring and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposal has several basic elements and is included in House Bill 110 and Senate Bill 265 (not yet online) --

· Annual state inventory of greenhouse gas emission;

· Creation of a stakeholder advisory group;

· Development of a global warming impact statement for PA; and

· Development of a greenhouse gas action plan.

“Climate change is the most important environmental problem facing our planet,” Rep. Vitali said. “Pennsylvania alone produces about 1 percent of the world’s greenhouse gasses, which is a significant contributor to global warming. So, in essence, Pennsylvania has a responsibility to do more as far as reducing its carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Other states are taking steps to identify how much they are contributing to the global warming problem, and are developing plans to be part of the solution. There is no reason why Pennsylvania should not do the same,” said Sen. Erickson, vice chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

“This will begin to allow business development in Pennsylvania that creates both jobs and a sustainable environment,” said Sen. Erickson, a former Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “It’s the next great opportunity for the American economy, and I believe Pennsylvania should strive to be a leader, and not play catch-up. The information and direction these bills will provide, if enacted, is essential to achieving that goal.”

Rep. Vitali said the state, despite its influence and contribution to global warming, has yet to develop a plan of action for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, something many other states have already done, including New York and New Jersey.

Rep. Vitali’s legislation, which has 64 co-sponsors, including 10 Republicans, and Erickson’s bill, which has 18 co-sponsors in the Senate, would require Pennsylvania to do four things: inventory the greenhouse gas emissions of various economic sectors in the state; create a voluntary greenhouse gas registry; develop and publish a global warming impact statement for Pennsylvania; and develop an action plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

Environmental advocates, including PennFuture, Sierra Club, Penn Environment, the Pennsylvania League of Conservation Voters and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, also stood side by side with members of the legislature during the news conference to support the House and Senate legislation.

2/2/2007