Agenda Added: Senate Committees To Hold March 29 Hearing On Economic Impacts Of DEP Carbon Pollution Reduction Program Covering Power Plants

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy and Community, Economic and Recreation Development Committees are scheduled to hold a joint hearing March 29 on the economic impacts of the federal regulation establishing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

These presenters are expected to provide comments (some may not be confirmed)--

-- Matthew Knittel, Independent Fiscal Office

-- Kevin Sunday, PA Chamber of Business & Industry

-- Melissa Morgan, NFIB - Pennsylvania

-- Carl Marrara, PA Manufacturers' Association

-- Brett Vassey, Virginia Manufacturers Association

-- Kris Anderson, International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers Third District

-- Martin Williams, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

-- Shawn Steffee, Boilermakers Union Local 154

-- Dr. Seth Blumsack, Center for Energy Law & Policy, Penn State University

-- Dr. William Shobe, Center for Economic & Policy Studies, University of Virginia

The Department of Environmental Protection and Ohio River Valley Institute are expected to provide written comments.

IFO Comments

On February 28 Senators Gene Yaw (R-Lyoming) and John Yudichak (I-Luzerne) sent a letter to the Independent Fiscal Office requesting an audit of modeling used to justify Pennsylvania’s entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

“The IFO’s impartial analysis has been regarded as among the most trustworthy perspectives in state government for more than a decade,” Sen. Yaw said. “The office’s projections will offer clarity on RGGI’s true economic impacts, given the Wolf administration’s repeated unwillingness to do so.”

The Senators requested an IFO review after the Department of Environmental Protection refused an invitation to testify before the the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, of which Sen. Yaw is chairman, about skyrocketing RGGI costs not contemplated by prior modeling.

The hearing will be held in Hearing Room 1, North Office Building starting at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.   Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5709 or sending email to: senatorcomitta@pasenate.com.

Sen. John Yudichak (I-Luzerne) serves as Majority Chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee and can be contacted at 717-787-7105 or send email to: John@pasen.gov.   Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-Delaware) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted at 717-787-5544 or send email to: cappelletti@pasenate.com. 

Related Articles This Week:

--  Guest Essay: Pennsylvania And Virginia Face Fight Of Their Lives - [What The Coal, Natural Gas Industries Want In PA]  - By Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming)

-- 6th Oil/Gas Shock: Listen To What Europe Says They Need - Not What The U.S. Oil/Gas Industry Wants 

Related Articles:

-- Senators Yaw, Yudichak Request Independent Fiscal Office To Audit Modeling Done By DEP To Justify Final RGGI Regulations Reducing Carbon Pollution From Power Plants

-- AP: DEP Files Lawsuit Against Reference Bureau To Publish Final RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Regulations; PA Could Lose Air Pollution Reductions, $283 Million

-- Senate Republicans File To Intervene To Oppose The DEP Lawsuit To Publish Final RGGI Carbon Pollution Reduction Regulations

-- Gov. Wolf Vetoes Resolution That Would Kill Carbon Pollution Reduction Program For Power Plants; General Assembly Failed To Act Within Statutory Deadlines

-- How Did We Get Here: Background On The Final EQB Regulation Reducing Carbon Pollution From Power Plants [RGGI]

[Posted: March 25, 2022]  PA Environment Digest