Press Releases

Evergreen: Gov. Shapiro Should Appeal Pennsylvania Court Ruling Blocking RGGI

TAGS:
Freedom from Fossil Fuels State Climate Action
Press Contact: Emily Halvorson

Republican obstruction can’t be the last word on a critical opportunity for the Commonwealth


In response to a Pennsylvania Commonwealth court ruling today that would block Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), Evergreen Action Deputy State Policy Director Julia Kortrey released the following statement: 

“Today’s ruling is wrong. It may further delay Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI, which is a disappointing setback for the Commonwealth’s economy, communities, and climate. But this is not the end of the story. To protect the economy, grow clean jobs, and safeguard public health, we trust Governor Shapiro will appeal immediately.

“For far too long, Pennsylvania communities and businesses have had state and federal clean energy investments blocked by red tape and lawsuits. Republicans in the state legislature are keeping Pennsylvania mired in litigation instead of ensuring their constituents benefit from participation in RGGI. Their obstruction is responsible for these unnecessary delays and today’s misguided ruling by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth court. Full participation in RGGI is crucial for Pennsylvania to maintain economic competitiveness across the region, bring in quality clean energy jobs, and reduce climate pollution. Governor Shapiro’s administration has rightly defended Pennsylvania’s authority to participate in RGGI throughout this year. We strongly urge the governor to continue doing so and swiftly appeal this decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.” 

Earlier this year, Synapse Energy Economics issued findings from a report independently produced for Evergreen Collaborative and Ceres exploring the economic benefits of Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI. The Synapse report finds that Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI will result in: 

  • An estimated $1.5 billion reduction in energy costs for Pennsylvania’s residents, businesses, and industrial sector.
  • A net decrease of $24 annually for the average household in utility bills.
  • $930 million of additional federal funding coming to Pennsylvania through Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits for solar, wind, and storage projects.