I applaud Gov. Tom Wolf for his support of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This program provides a framework for Pennsylvania to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and to fully eliminate the gases by 2050 using a cap and trade system. RGGI is a network of 10 states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region; Pennsylvania is not one of them.
Pennsylvania is the fourth largest emitter of carbon pollution in the United States. RGGI would be a win-win for Pennsylvania. The benefits include reducing emissions while growing the economy, cleaning the air to improve health, investing in energy-efficient programs and renewable energy jobs, and reducing consumer costs.
RGGI facilitates the purchasing of allowances by power plants equal to the carbon dioxide they produce. This is a financial incentive for power plants to reduce emissions and a critical step in fighting climate change.
I urge the Pennsylvania General Assembly to vote “yes” for Pennsylvania to join RGGI and make the polluters provide the revenue for clean energy.
Judith Flaherty
Brighton Heights
The writer is a Sierra Club volunteer.