By Rep. Greg Vitali, Trib Live
There are many things Pennsylvania state government should do this year to address climate change — but won’t, given the political composition of the state Legislature. But a few significant things are possible.
Pennsylvania emitted about 215 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2017 (the most recent data available), making it the fifth largest emitting state in the nation. As such, Pennsylvania should be doing things like increasing its Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, expanding the energy conservation provisions of Act 129, and joining the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program. But with the state House and Senate firmly in Republican control, it’s unlikely that any of these things will happen this year.
But Pennsylvania can join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), approve methane reduction regulations for the oil and gas industry, enact legislation to expand electric vehicles infrastructure, and enact legislation to authorize community solar development. These measures are possible because they can be done either by Gov. Tom Wolf through executive action or have the support of interest groups beyond the environmental community such as utility companies, labor unions or farmers.
Politics is the art of the possible, and these four things are possible this year.
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Joining RGGI is the most important thing Pennsylvania can do this year to address climate change. RGGI is an 11-state cap-and-trade program designed to reduce greenhouse emissions from the electric power sector (mainly from coal- and gas-fired power plants). Joining RGGI could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 188 million tons over the next decade, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. RGGI regulations are expected to be finalized late this year unless blocked by the General Assembly. A bill to block RGGI will be introduced soon.
Methane is the second-most prevalent greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, and Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry is a major methane emitter. Regulations to reduce methane leakage from unconventional gas well operations are on track to be approved later this year. These regulations would result in methane emissions reductions of about 75,603 tons per year, according to the DEP. This is the equivalent to about 1,890,075 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Read the full opinion piece here
