HARRISBURG – Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41) today, highlighted the passage of bipartisan legislation preventing a new electricity tax by repealing Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Senate Bill 1068 was approved by a vote of 33-17.
For more than six years, Senate Republicans have voiced opposition to RGGI, a multi-state compact, which would increase electricity rates on families and employers, cut energy and manufacturing jobs and cause Pennsylvania power plants to close. Senate Bill 1068, is the most recent initiative to formally repeal Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI, ensuring any decision to impose electricity taxes or emissions programs must go through the legislative process rather than being enacted unilaterally by the governor.
“The Commonwealth Court decision rendered now almost two years ago, was that entering into RGGI in the manner which Gov. Tom Wolf began was unconstitutional because it did not have legislative approval,” Pittman said. “Energy is a massive driver of inflation, and I cannot think of a more aggressive way to increase costs for every Pennsylvanian than to make them pay more to simply turn their lights on. It is time for us to move on, and I call on our friends in the House to join us in passing this critical, bipartisan legislation.”
Pennsylvania has not seen any investment in baseload generation over the past six years, threatening the state’s ability to meet its energy needs in the years ahead. That happened because – despite bipartisan opposition from the General Assembly – the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Quality Board pressed ahead with regulations to participate in RGGI and establish a CO2 Budget Trading Program.
In 2023, responding to a lawsuit brought by Senate Republicans, the Commonwealth Court ruled that RGGI is a tax and cannot be implemented without legislative approval. However, Gov. Josh Shapiro appealed the decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Shapiro’s decision has deepened concerns about energy grid reliability and affordability, prolonged uncertainty for workers and businesses across the commonwealth – and caused electricity prices to go up for hardworking families.
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Media Contact: Kate Flessner