On October 12, EEN Action and partner Evangelical Environmental Network delivered over 51,000 comments from evangelical Christians to Gov. Shapiro's Administration in support of Pennsylvania reaffirming its commitment to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

In support of this initiative, EEN Action issued this statement--

These comments are in addition to the more than 30,000 comments from individual pro-life Christians collected by EEN supporting former Gov. Wolf’s RGGI rulemaking in 2021. 

These new comments clearly demonstrate how backing for RGGI has only grown over the past two years, with evangelicals throughout Pennsylvania strongly in favor of the ways RGGI will benefit their Commonwealth, from creating thousands of family-sustaining jobs to ensuring a safe and healthy future for generations to come.

This is not only true of Christians, but Pennsylvanians as a whole, with 72% of the state’s residents supporting RGGI, according to 2020 polling.

In fact, EEN Action team member Kim Anderson of Cambria County testified at the Independent Regulatory Review Commission committee hearing on September 1, 2021, which resulted in a 3-2 vote in favor of RGGI.

Kim’s testimony was even cited by Commissioner Watson as to why he voted in favor. In her testimony, Kim said--

“Pennsylvania has always been a leader in energy production, which has brought immense benefit to Pennsylvanians, but it’s come at a terrible cost. Coal fouled our air, water, and the lungs of children and workers. Now, natural gas spews poisons that threaten health and has left over 300,000 abandoned/orphaned wells to leak methane day and night, which releases carbon and methane pollution that fuels climate change. We no longer need to choose between a strong economy and the health of our children. So, we must use RGGI to both clean up God’s creation and to help workers and families.”

While energy has brought immense benefits to the Commonwealth, it has come at a high cost in the form of adverse health impacts, especially on children. Carbon-based fuels are not the future of energy in Pennsylvania.

Already, utility scale wind- and solar-produced electricity is cheaper to generate, and now is a critical time for Pennsylvania to invest in clean energy jobs.

RGGI is a successful multi-state initiative that places caps on carbon pollution from power plants and uses funds generated from the program to reinvest into communities, including investments in energy efficiency and clean energy.

Pennsylvania has been a part of RGGI for over a year but has not been able to benefit due to the initiative being held up in the courts.

In total, it is estimated that Pennsylvanians have missed out on over $1.5 billion in funds due to this delay, not to mention a significant reduction in emissions.

EEN added-- For years, our community has supported Pennsylvania joining RGGI, and lifting their voices is an honor for EEN Action and the Evangelical Environmental Network. It’s time to recognize our past and especially the workers who sacrificed to make our Commonwealth an energy leader.

It is also time for a clean energy transformation that leads to healthier children, long-term family sustaining jobs, and a growing economy for all Pennsylvanians.

RGGI isn’t the only needed solution, but it is a critical piece in our Commonwealth to living up to our motto as the “Keystone State.”

Click Here for EEN Action video -- Pennsylvania and RGGI.

Click Here for EEN Action video -- Q/A On RGGI.

Click Here for EEN Action video - PA Needs A Clean Energy Future

Media questions should be directed to: Lindsay Garcia. (717) 891-1090 or communications@creationcare-action.com.

Visit the EEN Action and the Evangelical Environmental Network websites for more information.

NewsClips - Energy/Climate:

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro Isn’t Sold On RGGI Climate Program, His Working Group Isn’t Either - What’s Next?

-- York Daily Record Guest Essay: Gov. Shapiro, Let’s Hold The Fossil Fuel Industry Accountable Via RGGI - By Rev. Mitchell Hescox, Evangelical Environmental Network

-- The Derrick: $30 Million, 20 MW Solar Energy Facility To Break Ground In Clarion County Next Spring

-- Centre Daily Times Climate Watch: Make Community Solar Legal In Pennsylvania

-- Inside Climate News: A Reality Check About Solar Panel Waste And Effects On Human Health [Amount Is Tiny; Most Health Concerns Are Unfounded] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Converting To Clean Energy Depends On Electric Transmission Line Buildout

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PennDOT Releases Draft Map Of Priority Locations For Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

-- The Center Square: State Spending On Alternative Fuel Rebates Hists $15.7 Million

-- PennLive: Sheetz Receives PennDOT Grants To Expand Access To Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

-- Citizens Voice: Local Domino’s Deploying 10 Electric Vehicles To Deliver Pizzas

-- Penn State Hosts SPARK 2050 Energy Summit To Ignite Energy Transformation

-- Lehigh Valley News: PennEnvironment: PA Ranks 50th In US For Renewable Energy Growth

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Lagged In Renewable Energy Growth In Past Decade, But Trend May Be Reversing

-- PA Capital-Star: Report Shows PA Needs To Boost Renewable Energy Production, Lawmakers, Advocates Say

-- The Daily Item Letter: Fossil Fuels Have A History Of Being Unreliable

-- PJM Interconnection Files Changes To Capacity Market To Promote Reliability

-- PA Physicians For Social Responsibility: MarkWest Carpenter Natural Gas Compressor Station Natural Gas Leaks In Washington County [Video]

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Communities Marked For Federal Help To Address Climate Change

-- WESA: How A $9 Million Grant Will Boost Pittsburgh’s Urban Forest

-- Altoona Mirror Letter: America Must Rely On Renewable Energy, Nearly Every Species Of Plant, Insect, Fish, Wildlife Under Threat From Rapidly Warming Planet - By Ed Perry, Fmr US Fish & Wildlife Biologist

Related Articles - Energy/Climate:

-- EEN Action - Evangelical Environmental Network Will Deliver Over 51,000 Signatures To Gov. Shapiro In Support Of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative  [PaEN]

-- Re-Imagining A Christian Response To Changing Climate - Comments By Dr. Julia O’Brien, Lancaster Theological Seminary  [PaEN]

-- Impacto Media: Rich Negrin, Está Creando Un Ejército De Guerreros Ambientales  [DEP Secretary Rich Negrin Is Forming An Army Of Climate Warriors]  [PaEN]

-- Drexel University Environmental Collaboratory Oct. 26 Student-Focused Fireside Chat With DEP Secretary Rich Negrin  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Meets Oct. 16 On Cryptocurrency Mining Moratorium Bill; Resolution To Study Potential Of Geothermal Energy From Abandoned Mine Pools  [PaEN]

-- PA GreenGov Council Launches PA Climate Change Mitigation & Resilience Network  [PaEN]

-- DEP Accepting Applications For $16 Million In PA Grid Resilience Funding; Nov. 1 Deadline  [PaEN]

-- Appalachian Regional Commission Awards $14.5 Million In Grants To Pittsburgh, Towanda Groups To Grow Green Manufacturing  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center: Oct. 20 Webinar On Solar Guidebook For PA Landowners - Leasing Property For Large-Scale Solar Development  [PaEN]

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light Religion & Environment Webinar Series: Nov. 1 - A Jewish Approach To Activism & Accompaniment Thru The Climate Crisis  [PaEN]

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light, Jewish Earth Alliance Host Oct. 18 Webinar On Democracy, Voting & Climate Solutions  [PaEN]

-- Manada Conservancy Hosts Nov. 2 In-Person Presentation On A Path Forward - Local Climate Action In Hershey  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Blog: Forests Help With Climate Change

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Still Fighting To Make Road Dumping Its Wastewater Legal; DEP Introduces Concepts Of A ‘Life Insurance Policy’ For Plugging Wells; Certified 3rd Party Inspectors  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - October 7 to 13 - More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Spills; Venting Gas; Emergency Well Plugging  [PaEN]

[Posted: October 11, 2023]

10/16/2023