The Commonwealth Court decision that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is an illegal tax is misguided. (See River Reporter's full story on it here). Gov. Shapiro has made clear his commitment to tackling the climate crisis while creating jobs, protecting communities and positioning Pennsylvania to lead in the ongoing energy transition. The governor should appeal, and we believe the state Supreme Court will reverse the order. 

The diverse RGGI working group appointed by Gov. Shapiro agreed that a cap-and-invest program like RGGI is the best approach to cut CO2 pollution, create more certainty for families on utility costs, and create sustainable jobs in communities long dependent on fossil fuel extraction. 

The urgency to take action on climate change and a transitioning energy economy in the commonwealth is real. Some members of the state legislature have spent years and considerable taxpayer dollars obstructing RGGI while doing nothing to aid their own constituents, who are already dealing with energy transition. And they have taken no steps to position Pennsylvania as a leader in the energy economy of the future and the jobs and community economic investment opportunities that it brings with it. That’s why implementing RGGI in Pennsylvania is so important.

Clean Power PA and 33 organizations across the state urged Gov. Shapiro to vigorously defend RGGI in the courts, including appealing the Commonwealth Court decision and immediately launching a process to develop a comprehensive plan for the equitable allocation of RGGI proceeds. 

Clean Power PA

State of Pennsylvania