{"id":21357,"date":"2021-05-17T07:05:49","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T12:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=21357"},"modified":"2025-12-03T12:36:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T17:36:03","slug":"pennsylvania-just-reached-a-critical-milestone-on-the-path-to-a-clean-energy-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2021\/05\/17\/pennsylvania-just-reached-a-critical-milestone-on-the-path-to-a-clean-energy-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania just reached a critical milestone on the path to a clean energy future"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, Pennsylvania\u2019s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released its final rule to link the state with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to reduce carbon pollution from the state\u2019s power plants starting in 2022. This is a momentous step, not only for Pennsylvania, but for the country\u2019s fight against climate change: The Keystone state has the fourth dirtiest power sector in the nation in terms of carbon pollution. With this action, Governor Tom Wolf is showing much-needed leadership on cutting carbon pollution from the power sector, which is a critical piece of achieving the state\u2019s climate goals along with a strong and comprehensive rule to cut methane emissions from existing sources of oil and gas infrastructure in the state.<\/p>\n

The final rule stems from a 2019 Executive Order<\/a> issued by Governor Wolf that came after years of inaction by the legislature<\/a> to address the substantial air pollution coming from the state\u2019s power sector. The next major step is for the rule to be approved by the Environmental Quality Board in the third quarter of this year and it will then move through the final steps necessary before publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin<\/em>. Despite misleading criticisms<\/a> levied at the program, there is strong support in Pennsylvania for moving forward with limits on carbon, with 79%<\/a> of Pennsylvanians supporting strict limits on carbon pollution.<\/p>\n

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The final rule will reduce Pennsylvania\u2019s power sector carbon pollution by about 25%through 2030. It is a good down-payment on the progress that must be made to achieve a carbon-free power sector by 2035<\/a>, but more action will be needed. This rule comes at a critical time for the power sector in Pennsylvania, with consequential decisions looming by electricity generators to shutter zero-emitting nuclear plants that could lead to significant increases<\/em> in carbon pollution without a program like RGGI in place.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s new and noteworthy in the final rule?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

DEP has reviewed<\/a> thousands of public comments, heard live, virtual testimony from nearly 500 citizens, and accordingly made changes that reflect the feedback they received. The agency outlines the changes here<\/a>. Importantly, DEP has done due diligence to ensure that there are no major changes in the power sector since the COVID-19 pandemic that would have implications for the ability of the electricity generators to meet the requirements of the program. The results clearly show that Pennsylvania can easily meet the emissions reductions targets under RGGI in 2022 and beyond.<\/p>\n

A few important findings from their modeling and what we have learned in the past year:<\/p>\n

Achieving substantial cuts in pollution.<\/strong> DEP\u2019s updated modeling shows 100-225 million tons of carbon pollution are cut over the life of the program. This is a substantial amount of pollution and equivalent to taking roughly 20-44 million passenger vehicles<\/a> off the road for a year. Additionally, as has been seen with other states, reducing carbon pollution also reduces harmful air pollutants that contribute to soot and smog, which can cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, and missed work and school days \u2013 meaning cleaner air for Pennsylvanians to breathe.<\/p>\n

Designed to advance environmental justice. <\/strong>DEP\u2019s final rule takes steps that recognize the imperative to protect and benefit Environmental Justice communities as RGGI is implemented. DEP\u2019s rule includes a requirement for an annual air quality assessment to help ensure that as air pollution declines statewide, communities that historically have been disproportionately impacted by local air pollution are also seeing emissions decline in their communities. Additionally, DEP has developed RGGI Equity Principles<\/a> to help guide the program and investment strategy. The principles include:<\/p>\n