In his op-ed “My commonsense plan for a new era of energy leadership in Pa.” (April 2, TribLive), Gov. Josh Shapiro claims, “Doing nothing is not an option.” However, his energy proposals are solutions in search of a problem that will do nothing but harm Pennsylvania’s energy industry and raise energy costs.
Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) is a carbon copy of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Like RGGI, PACER will impose a carbon tax, forcing energy producers to raise their rates. Carbon tax revenues will partially fund consumer rebates to mitigate rising energy costs. PACER robs Peter to pay Paul’s utility bill.
PACER also punishes an industry that has already reduced its carbon footprint. The Independent Fiscal Office recently released data demonstrating that Pennsylvania has reduced emissions while expanding power generation.
Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) would cut current grid reliability in half. Contrary to Shapiro’s claim, PRESS will make our grid less reliable and more vulnerable to blackouts.
Pennsylvania is already doing something and doing it well. Our energy sector meets Shapiro’s policy criteria of creating jobs, addressing climate change and ensuring reliable energy.
PACER and PRESS are unrealistic and unnecessary proposals that will raise utility costs, destroy jobs, and threaten Pennsylvania’s role as a national leader in energy production.
André Béliveau
Harrisburg
The writer is senior manager of energy policy for the Commonwealth Foundation.