REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE PASSES STATE SENATE

A bill that would repeal Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative passed the state senate yesterday.  Senate Bill 1068 passed by a 33-17 vote with five Democrats joining all Republicans in voting in favor of it.  The bill is the most recent initiative to formally repeal the state’s participation in RGGI that was mandated in an executive order from former Governor Tom Wolf in 2019.  While it officially joined the compact in 2022, Commonwealth Court ruled nearly two years ago that RGGI was considered a tax and the state’s entry into the compact was unconstitutional due to the fact that it did not have legislative approval.  Governor Josh Shapiro has appealed the decision to the state supreme court.  On the floor of the senate yesterday, Senator Joe Pittman said that it was finally time to put RGGI in the rear-view mirror.  The bill heads to the house for further consideration.