Pennsylvania Governor Takes Decisive Action on Climate Change

(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order today that will help the Keystone state take a big step toward cutting the pollution that causes climate change.

The order directs the Department of Environmental Protection to quickly develop a rule that will put a firm limit on carbon pollution from the state’s power sector.

“The climate crisis we face requires more than rhetorical commitments, but rather decisive, concrete action – and today we got that from Governor Wolf. The development of regulations will lead to tangible reductions in Pennsylvania’s climate pollution,” said Pam Kiely, senior director of regulatory strategy for Environmental Defense Fund. “The regulatory strategy outlined today has delivered strong results across the region for a decade. With this template and the intensifying urgency to tackle climate change, we expect the Governor’s team will be able to meaningfully deliver early next year.”

Pennsylvania is the third largest greenhouse gas polluting state and is home to the fifth dirtiest power sector in the nation. A declining limit on power sector carbon emissions is critical for achieving the climate goals laid out by Governor Wolf, and for meeting Pennsylvania’s commitment under the U.S. Climate Alliance. In addition to securing critical emission benefits, such a regulation will provide meaningful support for the deployment of zero-emission energy technologies.

The rule outlined in today’s executive order will be developed to be compatible with regulations adopted by states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) that have adopted similar regulatory programs to reduce carbon pollution from the power sector.