House Committee To Consider Bill Taking Away DEP’s Authority To Enact Carbon Pollution Reduction Programs For Power Plants June 9

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on June 9 to consider House Bill 2025 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) to take away DEP’s authority to enact any program to reduce carbon pollution emissions.

This legislation and a companion bill in the Senate-- Senate Bill 950 (Pittman-R-Indiana)-- were introduced on November 19.  Read more here.

As drafted, the bill would take away authority to enact the proposed regulation establishing a carbon emission reduction program covering power plants compatible with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative set to go to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration in July as a result of Gov. Wolf’s October 3 Executive Order.  Read more here.

It would also take away the ability of Pennsylvania to join the Northeast Regional Transportation and Climate Initiative, if the state makes the decision to join.  Read more here.

The Senate and House have had multiple hearings and information meetings on the power plant carbon emissions reduction proposal and one hearing on the transportation initiative with Republicans outlining their concerns with the proposals.  Read more here.

The meeting will be held in Room G-50 of the Irvis Building starting at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch the meeting live online.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-783-1707 or sending email to: dmetcalf@pahousegop.com. Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net. 

Related Articles This Week:

-- House Environmental Committee Meets June 10 On Bill Exempting A 1,600 Tons/Day Garbage Processing Plant From DEP Waste Regulations

-- Republican Senate Committee Set To Consider Bills On June 10 To Block Regulations Because They Have Too Many Words; Promote 3rd Party Permit Reviews 

-- Target DEP: Republican Senate Bill Would Block All Regulations, Shut Down Citizen Advisory Committee Meetings During A Declared Emergency

Related Articles - Carbon Pollution:

-- Modeling For Carbon Pollution Reduction Proposal Shows 180M Ton Reduction In CO2, 3% Increase In Electric, Coal Use Drops Either Way

-- DEP Citizens Advisory Council Votes Against Moving Proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants To EQB

-- New PA Poll: 72% Of Pennsylvania Voters Say It's Important Their Electricity Comes From Energy Not Creating Carbon Emissions

-- New Poll Finds 79% Of Pennsylvania Voters Support Limits On Carbon Pollution From Power Plants

-- U.S. EIA Expects Coal-Fired Electric Generation To Fall By 25% In 2020; 11% Increase In Renewables; Natural Gas Flat

-- Republican House Members Sign Letter Urging Governor To Halt Efforts To Join Regional Carbon Pollution Reduction Program

-- 18 Senate Republicans Ask Gov. Wolf To Withdrawn His Executive Order Asking DEP To Establish A Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants

-- Senate Hearing: DEP - No Decision Made On Joining Regional Transportation Climate Initiative Reducing Vehicle Carbon Dioxide Emissions

-- New PEC Podcast: Fmr Gov. Tom Ridge On Conservatives Being Out Of Touch On The Environment

-- Op-Ed:My Fellow Conservatives Are Out Of Touch On The Environment - Fmr. Gov. Tom Ridge

[Posted: June 3, 2020]  PA Environment Digest