Hi —

We’ve been keeping a close eye on what’s happening related to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) — our state’s best chance to start reducing dangerous carbon pollution immediately — and I wanted to let you know that the state Senate and House committees have taken formal action to delay Pennsylvania from joining this commonsense initiative.

Currently, two disapproval resolutions against a recent decision in favor of RGGI are moving in both chambers, which buys time for anti-environment politicians to spread misinformation about the program.

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: RGGI is our best shot at addressing climate change, helping workers, and creating resilient communities. If we’re ever going to reduce our carbon emissions in the very small window that’s left to stave off the catastrophic rise in global temperatures and extreme weather events — which we’re already seeing — Pennsylvania has got to change course and join this critical program without any further delay.

Will you send a message urging your state lawmakers to support RGGI by opposing the two disapproval resolutions that could get voted on any day now?

Not only will RGGI cut carbon pollution by as much as 227 million tons in PA, it will also reduce harmful sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution from power plants. This will lead to cleaner air and water, healthier people, and savings on health care costs. In fact, health savings could reach as high as $6.3 billion by 2030, averaging between $232 million to $525 million per year.

In addition to these climate and public health benefits, estimates show that RGGI would generate a net increase of more than 27,000 jobs — many of them sustainable, clean energy jobs — and it will add nearly $2 billion to the state’s economy by 2030.

Having to pay to pollute isn’t popular with Big Polluters, and misguided delay tactics like disapproval resolutions show just how hard their corporate lobbyists in Harrisburg are working to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Will you speak up and urge your lawmakers to take concrete action to address climate change, clean our air, and raise revenue by supporting RGGI?

Thanks for all that you do.

Katie Blume

Political Director

Conservation Voters of PA