FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2020

As leaders of the Clean Jobs for Pennsylvania coalition, we are writing in opposition to House Resolution 1088.

Our members stand for the creation and preservation of clean energy jobs in the Commonwealth – and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, is absolutely critical in achieving those goals.

Pennsylvania is at a crossroads. As a national leader in the energy sector, thousands of jobs rely on electricity generation. But some of those forms of electricity generation lead to dirty air and health consequences.

Pennsylvania is behind the curve in addressing air pollution. It’s time for us to support our skilled workforce and advance it into clean electricity production. The benefits are clear: clean air; improved public health; high-paying jobs; and affordable electricity prices.

With RGGI, polluting fossil fuel plants pay for the social and health costs of carbon emissions they release into the air. Pennsylvania, and other RGGI states, using the money from emitters, can choose to invest in energy efficiency and clean job creation programs.

Around the nation and in Pennsylvania, coal plants are retiring or converting to natural gas. This affects local workers, communities, and businesses. However, RGGI presents an unparalleled opportunity for the legislature to direct funds to these workers and communities to help transition to a clean energy economy. Opposition to RGGI denies an avenue to financially address this transition, and leaves these communities on their own.

Pennsylvania has already begun creating renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which is an important step in the right direction. However, Pennsylvania’s current policies still favor dirty electricity sources over clean ones like wind, solar and nuclear power. This unfair advantage stifles new, clean energy projects and threatens to prematurely shut down emissions-free nuclear power plants.

We can’t let that happen, and we urge lawmakers to abandon efforts to continue blocking RGGI – including House Resolution 1088 – so that we can move Pennsylvania forward on this critical issue.

Derek Green
Philadelphia City Council

Joel Hicks
Councilman, Carlisle Borough

Whitney Hoffman
Vice-Chair, Kennett Township

Christopher Manero
Chair, Plymouth Township Council

William Jenaway
Chair, Upper Merion Twp. Supervisors

Jack Larkin
President, Radnor Twp. Commissioners