PA House Passes Legislation to Block Climate Action

HARRISBURG, P.A. – Pennsylvania lawmakers today voted to approve House Bill 2025, the “Pennsylvania Carbon Dioxide Cap and Trade Authorization Act.” Despite its misleading name, the legislation seeks to strip the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of its existing legal authority to regulate carbon pollution across all sectors – and ultimately, block Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Governor Tom Wolf has vowed to veto the bill. 

A statement follows from Mark Szybist, Senior Attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):  

“This disingenuous legislation flies in the face of all reason. At a time when Pennsylvanians are grappling with a devastating health and economic crisis, and feeling the effects of climate change, lawmakers are barreling through a pro-polluter agenda. The General Assembly knows this is a road to nowhere. Lawmakers should stop trying to derail climate action and actually address the multiple crises facing Pennsylvanians.” 

For more background, read: HB 2025 Is About Posturing. PA Needs Good Carbon Policy.

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.​