Sen. Comitta, Rep. Herrin To Discuss Rebuilding PA’s Energy Infrastructure, Helping Communities Transition To Clean Energy In July 28 Webinar

Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Rep. Dianne Herrin (D-Chester), who serves on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, will discuss rebuilding Pennsylvania’s energy infrastructure in a July 28 webinar from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Right now, there is an opportunity to rebuild Pennsylvania's energy infrastructure to make it more sustainable, resilient, cleaner, and equitable. 

That's because Pennsylvania is on the verge of implementing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) setting carbon pollution limits on power plants [Read more here], an ambitious step the Commonwealth is taking to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight against climate change.

Both Sen. Comitta and Report Herrin are introducing legislation to guide how revenue generated from the RGGI program will be reinvested in efforts to help communities and workers during the transition to clean energy, environmental justice areas and other initiatives.

“A climate crisis is happening before our eyes. It is caused by human activity and carbon emissions.  Every day, its impacts grow more severe. Every day, the need to act quickly and effectively grows more urgent,” said Sen. Comitta.

“According to Pennsylvania’s recently released 2021 Climate Impacts Assessment, average annual temperatures in the commonwealth will rise by 5.9°F by the middle of the century, with significant implications for public health, environmental justice and equity, our agriculture, recreation, and tourism industries, and the infrastructure we all depend on,” Sen. Comitta explained.

“Meanwhile, over the past decade, more than a dozen coal-fired power plants have closed in Pennsylvania, due to the shifting economics of energy, and a rapid movement to less expensive natural gas generation,” said Sen. Comitta. “That shift has left communities across the state grappling with lost tax revenue and unemployment, and limited resources to promote new economic development or provide workforce training and support.”

“This legislation makes targeted investments to support environmental justice communities, workers affected by energy transition, and Pennsylvania’s growing clean energy and commercial and industrial sectors,” said Sen. Comitta.  

Click Here to read more.  Rep. Herrin has introduced a companion bill-- House Bill 1565.

The webinar is being hosted by PennFuture, Conservation Voters Of PA, Clean Water Action, Sierra Club PA and PennEnvironment.

Click Here to register for this special event.

(Photos: Sen. Comitta and Rep. Herrin.)

Related Article:

-- Sen. Comitta To Introduce Bill Investing RGGI Proceeds In Helping Communities & Workers In Clean Energy Transition, Environmental Justice Areas, Promote Energy Efficiency 

[Posted: July 22, 2021]  PA Environment Digest