Pennsylvania Environmentalists Warn Against Trading Away Climate Program for Budget Deal
In a bid to break the state's four-month budget standoff, Republican lawmakers are pushing Governor Josh Shapiro and Democrats to abandon Pennsylvania's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) - a multi-state program aimed at reducing climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Environmental advocates say this would be a shortsighted move that would harm the state's environment.
According to Molly Parzens, executive director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, repealing RGGI regulations would "put our economic future on shaky ground" and lead to a lack of investment in clean energy projects. The program has already seen significant reductions in carbon emissions from power plants by placing an enforceable declining cap on the amount of climate pollution that fossil fuel power plants are allowed to emit.
By participating in RGGI, Pennsylvania has invested over $9 billion in clean energy projects and is projected to save consumers $20 billion in energy costs. Experts warn that withdrawing from the program now would be a costly mistake, as the state's Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of RGGI regulations could impact how Pennsylvania designs rules to control climate pollution under the Air Pollution Control Act.
"This is not a false choice between our environment and economy," Parzens emphasized. "We can have both a healthy environment and a strong economy."
Environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, are urging Governor Shapiro and lawmakers to resist Republican demands to abandon RGGI in exchange for a budget deal. The group's attorney, Robert Routh, noted that even if the Supreme Court rules in favor of RGGI, the state would still have the authority to regulate emissions.
The budget stalemate in Pennsylvania has already led to schools and social programs struggling with inadequate funding, with some lawmakers arguing that spending down the state's budget surplus and dipping into its rainy day fund is necessary for economic growth. However, environmental advocates say this approach ignores a structural deficit and would ultimately harm the state's economy.
As negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether Governor Shapiro and Democrats will cave to Republican demands and abandon RGGI in exchange for a budget deal. Environmental groups are warning that such a decision would be a costly mistake with long-term consequences for Pennsylvania's environment and economy.
In a bid to break the state's four-month budget standoff, Republican lawmakers are pushing Governor Josh Shapiro and Democrats to abandon Pennsylvania's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) - a multi-state program aimed at reducing climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Environmental advocates say this would be a shortsighted move that would harm the state's environment.
According to Molly Parzens, executive director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, repealing RGGI regulations would "put our economic future on shaky ground" and lead to a lack of investment in clean energy projects. The program has already seen significant reductions in carbon emissions from power plants by placing an enforceable declining cap on the amount of climate pollution that fossil fuel power plants are allowed to emit.
By participating in RGGI, Pennsylvania has invested over $9 billion in clean energy projects and is projected to save consumers $20 billion in energy costs. Experts warn that withdrawing from the program now would be a costly mistake, as the state's Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of RGGI regulations could impact how Pennsylvania designs rules to control climate pollution under the Air Pollution Control Act.
"This is not a false choice between our environment and economy," Parzens emphasized. "We can have both a healthy environment and a strong economy."
Environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, are urging Governor Shapiro and lawmakers to resist Republican demands to abandon RGGI in exchange for a budget deal. The group's attorney, Robert Routh, noted that even if the Supreme Court rules in favor of RGGI, the state would still have the authority to regulate emissions.
The budget stalemate in Pennsylvania has already led to schools and social programs struggling with inadequate funding, with some lawmakers arguing that spending down the state's budget surplus and dipping into its rainy day fund is necessary for economic growth. However, environmental advocates say this approach ignores a structural deficit and would ultimately harm the state's economy.
As negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether Governor Shapiro and Democrats will cave to Republican demands and abandon RGGI in exchange for a budget deal. Environmental groups are warning that such a decision would be a costly mistake with long-term consequences for Pennsylvania's environment and economy.
I totally get why environmentalists are freaking out about this - it's like, you're trying to make a buck, but at what cost? 
Losing the RGGI program would mean sacrificing all that investment in clean energy projects and potentially hurting the state's economy in the long run. It's not just about the environment, it's also about the future of PA's economy. And let's be real, who wants to be known as a state that can't even take care of its own air quality? 
i mean, we know gov shapiro & reps r tryin to get a deal done but this is just crazy talk. $20 bil in energy savings & $9 bil in clean energy investments? that's not a trade-off, thats a total loss for the state. environmental groups r right on this one - we cant have it both ways, but we can def have a healthy environment & a strong economy too 
The more I learn about this, the more worried I am... Trading away climate progress for a short-term budget fix? No thanks 
It's not like PA is going to magically find its way out of economic trouble without taking care of its environment. The idea that we can have it both ways is just plain unrealistic 
What if this Supreme Court ruling thing doesn't go in their favor? They're basically throwing the baby out with the bathwater 
If PA pulls out of RGGI, what's next? 
to represent the situation:
and future energy costs 
. On the other hand, some lawmakers think that spending down the budget surplus will help the economy grow 
. I don't know what's best, but it seems like we need to find a balance between these two important things.
. trading that away just to get a budget deal is not worth it imo 
. it's all about having both a healthy environment and a strong economy... can't we find another way to compromise on the budget without sacrificing our climate goals? 
. I know the state is struggling, but abandoning RGGI is not the answer. We're already talking billions saved on energy costs and investments in clean projects... what's the cost of going backwards? 
! They wanna trade away our climate program 4 a budget deal?! Like, what r they even thinkin'?! 
It's like, no way dude! 
Our environment is EVERYTHING rn 
. I'm def teaming up with enviro groups to fight against this nonsense 
. Let's keep our planet clean and thrivin'! 
I mean, think about it - we're talking about billions of dollars in clean energy investments and tens of billions in energy savings. That's not a false choice between our economy and environment, that's a choice between being responsible and being reckless.
. We can have both a healthy environment and a strong economy - it's not rocket science! 
like, we r talkin bout trading away our clean energy progress 4 a budget deal?!?! it just dont make sense to me 
governor shapiro u gotta stand strong on this one!!! 
conservation voters of pennsylvania is literally the real MVP right now 
#GoGreen #SaveOurPlanet
investing in clean energy projects is key to growth and saving consumers $$$20 billion in energy costs isn't nothing! 
And $9 billion in clean energy projects is like, what, pennies compared to the cost of dealing with climate disaster? 