Pennsylvania lawmakers fail to override key element of gov's climate plan

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Lawmakers fail to override key element of gov’s climate plan

April 4, 2022

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Legislature failed Monday in a last-ditch effort to block the centerpiece of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to fight climate change, a regulation requiring fossil fuel-fired power plants to pay a price for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit.

A 32-17 vote in the state Senate failed to reach a two-thirds threshold to block a regulation written by Wolf’s administration that could make Pennsylvania the first major fossil fuel state to adopt a carbon pricing policy.

It still could face a legal challenge in the courts from opponents, who contend that it is an illegal use of regulatory authority. If it is not blocked by a court, the compliance obligation on power plants that are subject to the regulation could start as early as July 1.

Republican lawmakers have sought to block it, calling it an unconstitutional tax that will close down power plants, balloon consumer electric bills, threaten national security and destroy Pennsylvania’s growing natural gas-based industrial economy.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/climate-business-tom-wolf-pennsylvania-legislature-ab688a5402dea912d67d762c89b448cd

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EDIT: corrected headline

[calimary]

1. Pennsylvania lawmakers. Not Louisiana's.

Humbly submitted.