Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Position In Brief:
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the market based, job creating, proven tool for Pennsylvania to tackle the problems that climate change presents and the task of providing all Pennsylvanians with the Constitutionally guaranteed right to clean air.
Background On RGGI:
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a cooperative effort among ten, soon to be eleven, New England and mid-Atlantic states to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the electric power sector.
RGGI is the first mandatory market-based program in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI is a cap and invest program - through the Initiative, states invest proceeds in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other consumer benefit programs.
Each fossil fuel fired 25 megawatts or greater electric power generating plant must hold an allowance (permit) for each ton of carbon dioxide they emit. The carbon dioxide allowances are issued/sold by participating states at single, consolidated quarterly auctions.
Burning coal or natural gas produces carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, particulates (PM) and volatile organic compounds. Burning coal usually produces some mercury (volatile) and fly ash. In 2019 PA had 7 of the top 25 cities in the nation with the highest levels of year-round particle pollution and ranked 3rd in the nation for carbon dioxide emissions.
By reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the other pollutants are reduced; leading to cleaner air which would be expected to improve health and, therefore, reduce the cost of health care and the number of lost workdays.
Implementation of RGGI will reduce the number of jobs in the fossil fuel industry. But jobs will be created in the wind, solar, nuclear, hydro and geothermal energy industries. The PA DEP projects that there will be a significant net gain in jobs in the energy sector/industries by implementing RGGI. Training/retraining programs will need to be available for displaced workers.
Article 1, Section 27 of the PA Constitution states in part, “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment...” The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania played a leading role in the adoption of Article 1, Section 27.
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