On Wednesday, the State House of Representatives passed representative Jim Struzzi’s bill that would require legislative authorization before Pennsylvania could impose a carbon tax on employers that are involved in electric generation, manufacturing or other industries in the state, or entering into any multi-state program, like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, that would impose such a tax.
The initiative, known as RGGI, came to the forefront after Governor Tom Wolf issued an executive order that directed the state Department of Environmental Protection to start RGGI regulations. The program would establish a regional cap on the amount of Carbon Dioxide pollution that power plants could emit and establish a carbon tax on fossil fuel users.
Struzzi said that the initiative would have an adverse impact and would force the every coal and many less-efficient gas plants in Pennsylvania to close and eliminate many jobs. Indiana County has three coal-fired power plants and one that burns waste coal, and all would likely close under RGGI regulations.
In a statement issued yesterday, Struzzi said that with the state already ahead of the carbon dioxide reduction goals from Governor Wolf’s Climate Action Plan, RGGI would jeopardize thousands of jobs and the costs would eventually be passed on to consumers through increases in electric bills. He also said the Governor’s order implicated “serious constitutional principles of checks and balances that merit a strong, bipartisan response from the Legislature.”
The bill passed by a bipartisan majority of 130-71, and will now head to the Senate for their consideration.
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