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WHEREAS, our nation's climate crisis is becoming more apparent every year, with higher summer temperatures and severe storms here in Pennsylvania, wildfires out west, and hurricanes down south; and,
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WHEREAS, as the fourth largest climate polluter in the country, Pennsylvania has a responsibility to be a leader in implementing climate solutions; and,
WHEREAS, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a bipartisan, multi-state program started in 2008 that works by setting a cap on pollution from power plants and reducing those caps each year; and,
WHEREAS, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont all participate in RGGI, with Virginia in process of joining; and,
WHEREAS, through 2008 to 2018, carbon pollution has decreased by 47% in participating RGGI states, outpacing the rest of the country by 90%; and,
WHEREAS, in 2019 Governor Tom Wolf issued an executive order for Pennsylvania to join RGGI. Pennsylvania joining RGGI would have a massive impact on reducing emissions by 188 million tons by 2030; and,
WHEREAS, air pollution reductions from joining RGGI will benefit those most impacted by poor air quality, such as children, seniors, and low-income and environmental justice communities, especially impactful during a global pandemic that attacks our respiratory systems; and,
WHEREAS, air pollution reductions from joining RGGI will reduce pollution from sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter. These pollutants are linked to health problems including respiratory illnesses, heart attack, stroke, cancer, and mental health problems. Pollution from nitrogen oxide is expected to drop by 112,000 tons, with pollution from sulfur dioxide is expected to drop by 67,000 tons; and,
WHEREAS, in Pennsylvania, RGGI has the potential to create 27,000 new jobs and reduce electricity prices, with electricity prices in participating states reduced by 5.7%. During a time...
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