The Pennsylvania State Senate didn’t get enough votes to override a move by Governor Tom Wolf to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
The program is also called “RGGI” and it aims to put a mandatory cap on carbon emissions. A number of northeastern states are a part of the program.
Wolf joined the program via executive order, which a number of Republican Senators took exception to—including Senator Kim Ward.
“A vote for RGGI, if we don’t override this veto is a vote to increase Pennsylvania’s electric bill by 30 percent. Eliminate 22,000 Pennsylvania jobs and increase the cost of everyday products with no environmental benefits,” Ward said on the Senate floor.
Supporters of the initiative say the program brings environmental and economic benefits to the state.
Preventing Pennsylvania from joining RGGI will setback out efforts to address climate change by years, while also not providing any short term or long term benefits to the citizens of our Commonwealth,” State Senator Amanda Capelletti said. “In fact, it will actively cause harm and deteriorate our public health.”