On March 14, Gov. Josh Shapiro joined industry, labor, environmental, consumer leaders, and Rep. Patty Kim at Cordia Energy in Harrisburg to highlight his newly unveiled energy plan to protect and create nearly 15,000 energy jobs, lower utility bills for Pennsylvania households, and take real action to address carbon pollution.  Read more here.

Senate Republicans issued statements rejecting his offer to work on legislation to make the electric grid more reliable, diversify Pennsylvania’s energy generation, lower energy costs for ratepayers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Read more here.

 At the event on March 14, Gov. Shapiro said this about their initial comments--

“I heard a few people chirping in the legislature yesterday, basically saying they want to do nothing.

“Well, let me tell you something-- "Doing nothing," as Rob Bair [President of the PA State Building and Construction Trades] said, "is not acceptable."

“Doing nothing is not an option. And there are real consequences to doing nothing because, of course, doing nothing is a choice.

“So, if they choose to do nothing, consumers are going to pay more on their electric bills.

“If they choose to do nothing, we will not create these jobs.

“By the way, as they've chosen to do nothing in recent years, look what's happened. [Power] plants have closed on their watch because they chose to do nothing.

“Now is a time for real action.

“If we want to reduce pollution, doing nothing is not an option.

“Because they've done nothing, we have seen pollution unfairly target communities, as Katie [Blume, Conservation Voters of PA] said, oftentimes those of black and brown constituencies who have had a history, a legacy of that pollution.

“They have chosen to do nothing and these negative consequences have come.

“I've put forth a plan where we can do something, create jobs, be more competitive, protect our planet, and help us move forward and no longer fall behind other states.

“It is time to do better. It is time to take action.

“It is time to do what is common sense to create jobs.

“Labor leaders, environmental leaders, industry leaders, consumer advocates, and many members of the General Assembly are now calling on us to do something.

“Now is the moment to act. Now is the moment to get something done.

“I know that there'll be some folks who think this plan is too big and too bold, who are used to doing nothing.

“You know what? Now's the time for big and bold.

“Now's the time to lead again here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

In response to a media question about comments made by Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee, Gov. Shapiro said--

“We've done nothing over the last number of years, and we are losing out and not having enough energy in order to compete.

“If we want to compete, if we want to attract data centers, if we want to attract more industry, if we want to have a successful economic development strategy, we're going to need more energy and we're going to need more clean energy, and my plan produces more clean energy in the Commonwealth.

“It creates an environment where there's more innovation, where there's more people doing this work. In the building trades all across Pennsylvania.

“Doing nothing is going to mean we're going to fall further behind.

“Doing something is going to create more energy opportunities across Pennsylvania.”

In response to another media question about RGGI [Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative], Gov. Shapiro said--

“I've made very clear, you pass my plan. I'll take us out of RGGI.

“For those who just want to complain for a few more years about RGGI and accomplish nothing, that's only going to mean you're not a competitive person.

“You're not someone who wants Pennsylvania to lead.

“You're okay with more pollution in our communities.

“You don't want to create more jobs.

“You don't want to look out for consumers.

“If you choose to do nothing, you're making it harder on Pennsylvanians.

“Now is the time to act. Pass my plan, I'll take us out of RGGI.

“We'll do right by consumers, we'll create jobs and have more energy opportunities across Pennsylvania.”

“Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation with a divided legislature.”

“I'm the only governor with a House led by one party and a Senate led by others, and that means no one gets everything they want, and that's okay.

“But now is a moment where we've got to do something.”

These remarks came at about the 37:00  minute mark in the event video.

Related Articles - Energy/Climate Plan:

-- Gov. Shapiro Unveils Cap-And-Invest PA Climate Emissions Reduction Initiative To Reduce Carbon Pollution From Power Plants; Update Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards To Diversify Electric Generation, Improve Reliability  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Joins Industry, Labor, Environmental, Consumer Leaders To Highlight New Energy Plan To Create Jobs, Lower Costs For Pennsylvanians  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro: PA Labor & Industry Leaders Praise Energy/Climate Plan

-- Gov. Shapiro: PA Environmental Leaders Praise Energy/Climate Plan

-- Gov. Shapiro On Republican Reaction To His Energy Plan: They’ve Done Nothing And Power ‘Plants Have Closed On Their Watch;’ They’re ‘Used To Doing Nothing;’ ‘Doing Nothing Is Not Acceptable’ [PaEN]

-- Senate Republicans Reject Gov. Shapiro’s Offer To Work On Legislation To Make The Electric Grid More Reliable, Diversify Our Energy Sources, Lower Energy Costs For Ratepayers, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions  [PaEN]

-- EPA: Pennsylvania One Of 45 States, MSAs To Submit Priority Climate Action Plans As Part Of $5 Billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Conventional Oil & Gas Operators Will Not Be Eligible For New Methane Reduction Well Plugging Grants If They Are Not In Compliance With State Law, Regulations  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Changes To General Air Quality Permit Authorizing Coal Mine Methane Flares  [PaEN]

-- Pennsylvania’s Electric Grid Is Dependent On One Fuel To Generate 59% Of Our Electricity; Market Moving To Renewables + Storage  [PaEN]

-- US EIA Report Shows How Winter Storms Have Reduced US Natural Gas Production, But Disruptions Can Happen Any Time Of The Year  [PaEN]

NewsClips - Energy/Climate Plan:

-- AP: PA Gov. Shapiro Backs New Plan To Make Power Plants Pay For Greenhouse Gases

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Gov. Shapiro Calls For PA Carbon Cap-And-Trade Market, Plus Higher Clean Energy Requirements

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Gov. Shapiro Proposes State Climate Program To Replace RGGI, Asks For New Renewable Energy Goals

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Governor Wants To Cut Power Plant Emissions With His Own Cap-And-Invest Program

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Shapiro Tees Up Independent Carbon Tax Plan For Pennsylvania

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shapiro Unveils Alternative To RGGI That Would Keep Proceeds And Cap In State

-- PennLive: Shapiro Pitches Sweeping Two-Piece Energy, Climate Change Plan

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Pitches Carbon Cap-And-Invest Plant To Capitalize On PA’s Energy Exports

-- The Center Square: Building Trades Say Governor’s Carbon Tax Plan ‘Sets The Thanksgiving Table, Now It’s Time To Sit Down And Eat’

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Governor’s Carbon Tax Plan Called A ‘Disastrous’ Gift To Ohio, West Virginia By Republicans, Others

-- WVIA: Frustrated With Water Polluted By Shale Gas Drilling, Dimock, Susquehanna County Residents Confront Governor At Clean Energy Announcement In Scranton

-- PennLive Guest Essay: There’s No Excuse For Inaction On Climate Change In Pennsylvania - By Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Minority Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light: National Faith + Climate Online Forum Set For April 16;  In-Person Watch Party

-- Penn State Earth Talks: March 18 In-Person/Webinar On City Heat Adaptation Tool For Cities To Improve Public Health, 4:00 p.m.

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Report: Billions In PA Taxpayer Subsidies Go To Polluting Shell Petrochemical Plant Without Regard To Environmental Compliance

-- Utility Dive: US Electricity Prices Outpace Inflation; Consumers Not Seeing Rate Decreases Due To Gas Price Drops; Increased LNG Gas Exports Could Send Prices Higher Again 

[Posted: March 15, 2024]

3/18/2024