PEC and the Environmental Defense Fund submitted the following letter to the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee today in opposition to Senate Bill 186.
Dear Senators:
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), we are writing to express our opposition to Senate Bill 186. This legislation, which would abrogate the CO2 Budget Trading Program rulemaking, will be considered by the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee today (January 27).
Pennsylvania needs proactive solutions to meet the growth in energy demand with cleaner generation. Other states in the PJM Interconnection footprint are surpassing the Commonwealth in attracting clean energy generation, manufacturing, and investment, as well as achieving better grid diversification, through policies that will ultimately deny our continued status as an energy exporter unless we proactively enact standards to drive decarbonization of our electricity generation.
Abrogating the CO2 Budget Trading Program, which is not yet even in effect, would be a step backwards. The status quo has laid the groundwork for serious reliability and cost concerns with respect to the electric grid. Withdrawing this rulemaking won’t solve or abate those problems. In fact, the rulemaking – if implemented – could help with investments in new and cleaner generation, facility conversions, and grid resilience. The General Assembly could support and directly engage in those investment decisions.
The Governor’s Task Force, which included diverse stakeholders from environmental, labor, and generation interests, recognized that a market-based cap and investment program like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RRGI) was the most efficient and flexible approach to reducing emissions while also meeting the needs of consumers and the workforce. Our state can exponentially benefit from having a policy pathway that signals Pennsylvania is fully engaged in the energy transition; utilizing a proven policy like RGGI provides that certainty.
For these reasons, we respectfully ask that you oppose Senate Bill 186.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kate Courtin
State Manager, State Climate Policy & Strategy
Environmental Defense Fund
John Walliser
Senior Vice President, Legal & Government Affairs
Pennsylvania Environmental Council