A local lawmaker has assisted in the effort to advance a bill that would mandate legislative approval before the state could enter into an agreement that would limit the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.
Republican State Senator Joe Pittman was the prime sponsor of the companion bill to House Bill 2025 which would create the Pennsylvania Carbon Dioxide Cap and Trade Authorization Act.
“We’ve ensured that we as a legislature, and by extension those hard working women and men who keep our lights on, have a voice in any process that the Governor may try to implement,” Pittman said.
Last year Governor Tom Wolf directed the state Department of Environmental Protection to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative which would set a cap on total carbon dioxide emissions from electric power generators with the need to purchase allowances.
Pittman believes that this move would devastate Pennsylvania’s electric generation industry and result in the loss of thousands of jobs.
“By the governor’s own admission, it equates to a $300 million tax on electricity,” Pittman said. “For every Commonwealth citizen that uses electricity, they’ll be footing the bill.”
This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 33-17 which includes five Democrats who voted in favor. It will now be sent Governor Wolf.