HARRISBURG – Senate and House Republican leaders, along with energy industry stakeholders including trade unions and business organizations, today highlighted many positive impacts the significant new reforms to Pennsylvania’s permitting process and getting Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) will have on our state’s economy in the months and years ahead.
Participating in RGGI, a multi-state electricity tax Gov. Wolf attempted to implement via an illegal regulation and which Gov. Shapiro pursued through the courts, would have increased electricity rates for families and businesses, eliminated energy and manufacturing jobs, forced Pennsylvania power plants to close and created serious threats to grid reliability.
Pennsylvania’s permitting process has been a deterrent to businesses moving to or expanding in Pennsylvania, costing our state countless jobs. The new law cuts red tape, establishes clear timelines for permit reviews and creates a real-time online tracking system. In addition, key permits will be deemed approved if a state agency moves too slowly.
“Embracing an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy that doesn’t pick winners and losers is key to unleashing Pennsylvania’s energy potential,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39). “This year’s budget makes two major strides toward a more competitive business and regulatory climate by exiting RGGI and building on last year’s permit reform efforts. Deemed-approved permits give applicants a clear timeline and the ability to appeal denied applications. Ending RGGI eliminates the threat of a $1.2 billion energy tax that would have burdened Pennsylvania families and businesses. Our energy resources are a competitive advantage and a pathway to prosperity – creating good-paying jobs, driving our economy and protecting our national interests.
“This is a historic moment for this Commonwealth because of meaningful reforms which will unleash the promise of Pennsylvania,” said Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41). “The excitement of these changes is really all about our young people. Everyone knows we’re facing a demographic crisis in this Commonwealth, and we must reverse course. This truly is about giving our young people an opportunity to stay here, to work here, and to raise their families here. We want the people of Pennsylvania to know that our Commonwealth, because of the actions that we led on, is now open for business more than ever before.”
“Getting out of RGGI and the permitting reforms secured as part of the state budget are nothing short of transformative economic growth policy that will help guarantee the future stability of the commonwealth and deliver on the promise of Pennsylvania,” said House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-78). “The pro-growth policy included in the budget, achieved through the consistent and unified work of Republicans in the House and the Senate, will set up our state as the beacon for job creators looking for long-term investment in a surging economy, students looking for in-demand and family sustaining jobs, and the industries of tomorrow looking to make this commonwealth their home in a new era of Pennsylvania prosperity.”
Stopping the RGGI regulation ensures any decision to impose electricity taxes or emissions programs must go through the legislative process rather than being enacted unilaterally by the governor. Leaders said a strong, reliable, and cost-effective energy portfolio across Pennsylvania requires embracing an all-encompassing strategy when it comes to the generation and distribution of power.
“After six long years the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will no longer be a part of Pennsylvania politics and our energy future in Pennsylvania,” said Shawn Steffee, business agent, Boilermakers Local 154 Pittsburgh and president, South Central Building Trades Council. “This is great news for hardworking Pennsylvanians all across the state.”
“We are fortunate to have strong legislative allies that ultimately defeated the RGGI tax so that we can now look forward to advancing pro-consumer, pro-Pennsylvania energy policy,” said Patrick Henderson, vice president of Government Affairs and Communications for the Marcellus Shale Coalition. “On the permitting front, the reforms included in this year’s budget resolution are nothing short of historic. For the first time, key permits will be deemed approved if the Department of Environmental Protection’s review of applications fails to move at the speed of business. These reforms are a significant step in addressing long-highlighted priorities of our members and the business community: to improve Pennsylvania’s competitiveness in the race for jobs and capital investment.”
“RGGI is fundamentally an anti–working-class policy, a straight up assassination of blue-collar jobs, and its abrogation would not have been possible without Sen. Pittman’s tireless leadership,” said Aric Baker, president, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 459. “Sen. Pittman has fought alongside my union, IBEW Local 459, for an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy that protects our grid reliability, national security, energy consumers and the thousands of blue-collar union jobs and families whose livelihoods depend on coal and natural gas. On behalf of more than 1,400 IBEW Local 459 members, we are eager to help lead Pennsylvania into a more prosperous, energy-abundant future while also providing good family sustaining jobs.”
“RGGI created uncertainty for our energy infrastructure – and that caused plant owners to hesitate on investments, delay upgrades, postpone maintenance, shelve new projects, and ultimately minimize employment opportunities,” said Jim Enders, business manager of UA Local 520 Plumbers & Pipefitters and president of the Central PA Building and Construction Trades Council. “For the Building Trades, this resulted in fewer jobs for our members. By exiting RGGI, we have a unique opportunity to develop an energy strategy that benefits everyone – affordable energy, reliable grids, and steady jobs for our skilled workforce.”
Ward, Pittman and Topper were also joined by members of the Senate and House Republican Caucuses, along with representatives of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Boilermakers Local 154 Pittsburgh, IBEW Local 459, UA Local 520 Plumbers and Pipefitters, the PA Chamber of Business & Industry and Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.
CONTACTS:
Erica Clayton Wright (Sen. Ward)
Kate Flessner (Sen. Pittman)
Jason Gottesman (Rep. Topper)