DEP Advisory Committees Meet Oct. 15 On RGGI Equity Principles, Medium-Heavy Duty Zero Emission Trucks MOU

Two of DEP’s advisory committees will meet on climate-related issues on October 15, including equity principles for DEP’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program from power plants and the recently-signed interstate medium-heavy duty zero emission trucks memorandum of understanding.

RGGI Equity Principles

DEP’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board will meet to further discuss draft equity principles that should help guide Pennsylvania’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Program from power plants that is compatible with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

The principles cover both development of the program and an investment strategy for proceeds from the program.  The draft principles include--

-- Inclusively gathers public input using multiple methods of engaging the public, especially environmental justice communities and meaningfully considers that input in making decisions related to the design and implementation of the power sector carbon-reduction program and disseminates any final decisions that are made that affect such impacted communities in a timely manner.

-- Protect public health, safety and welfare, including mitigating any adverse impacts on human health, especially in environmental justice communities, and seek to ensure environmental and structural racism are not replicated in the engagement process.

-- Works equitably and with intentional consideration to distribute environmental and economic benefits of auction proceeds in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by air pollution.

     -- Seeks to address legacy impacts related to emissions and pollution in vulnerable populations and among environmental justice communities.

     -- Provides access to investment programs for all members of the community, especially low-income communities.

Click Here for a copy of the draft principles.

The Board had previously written to DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell making recommendations on how to meaningfully engage the environmental justice community in the development of the carbon pollution reduction program. Read more here.

Individuals interested in providing public comments during the meeting must sign up prior to the start of the meeting by contacting Allison Acevedo by email to: alacevedo@pa.gov or call 484-250-5818.

The meeting will start at 1:00 p.m.  It is available by Conference Call: 267-332-8737 Conference ID: 410 690 185 or via Skype Meeting.

For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board webpage.  Questions should be directed to Allison Acevedo by email to: alacevedo@pa.gov or call 484-250-5818.  

Zero Emission Trucks

DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee will hear a presentation on the Memorandum of understanding Pennsylvania signed with 14 other states and the District of Columbia committing to zero-out greenhouse gas emissions from medium and heavy-duty trucks and busses by 2050. Read more here.

Signing a memorandum of understanding was a diverse mix of states that includes California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington as well as the District of Columbia.

The MOU, organized by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), calls for 30 percent of new truck and bus sales to be zero-emission by 2030 and 100 percent zero-emission by 2050.

These states collectively account for almost 50 percent of the U.S. economy and nearly 40 percent of goods moved by truck (by value).

[Note: This is different from the Regional Transportation Climate Initiative for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all transportation sources.  Read more here.]

Click here for DEP’s presentation on the MOU and a working timeline for the development of the program.

Individuals interested in providing public comments during the meeting must sign up prior to the start of the meeting by contacting Kirit Dalal by sending an email to kdalal@pa.gov  or calling 717-772-3436.  Further instructions on the agenda.

The meeting will start at 9:15 a.m.  Click Here to join the meeting via WebEx or join by Conference Call: 1-415-655-0003 Access code: 132 933 7202.

For more information and available handouts, visit DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee webpage.  Questions should be directed to Kirit Dalal by sending an email to kdalal@pa.gov  or calling 717-772-3436.

[Posted: October 11, 2020]  PA Environment Digest