Gov Wolf Does the Right Thing Vetoing HB2025

Harrisburgh, P.A. - Governor Wolf vetoed House Bill 2025 today, which would have removed the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) legal authority to regulate carbon dioxide pollution from any source within the Commonwealth. The bill would’ve prevented Pennsylvania’s participation in the "cap-and-invest" program known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). 

The Environmental Quality Board just approved a draft version of the RGGI rule earlier this month, which sets the stage for public comment later this fall.

In response, Tom Schuster, Pennsylvania Clean Energy Program Director said: 

“The RGGI program is truly going to be the most important action Pennsylvania has taken on climate to date, and we applaud Governor Wolf’s continued leadership in pushing this program forward. According to DEP’s analysis, RGGI will provide thousands of jobs and increase overall economic activity in PA by $1.9 billion by 2030. This is the program we need in a post-COVID economy recovery plan. Thank you Governor Wolf for acting on climate and working to protect future generations.”

“If we do not start acting immediately to reign in climate disrupting pollution, it will be too late. We cannot sacrifice our children’s future in an attempt to support the coal industry, which is dying with or without RGGI. If the legislature wants to play a more productive role, they can start by supporting community transition packages or designating some of the RGGI allowance proceeds to help communities adapt to inevitable change.”