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PA Chamber Reacts to Shapiro’s Energy Plan

In a press conference last Wednesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two new energy proposals his administration hopes to pass through the state legislature. The first is a state-specific cap-and-invest program known as the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER), which the governor framed as an alternative to Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

The other proposal, called the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS), would require that 50 percent of the state’s electricity come from diverse sources by 2035, including 35 percent from clean energy such as solar and wind, 10 percent from sustainable sources like hydropower and battery storage, and five percent from low-emission natural gas and other fuels.

In response, PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein released the following statement:

“We all share the goals of protecting our environment and growing our economy – and, one does not have to come at the expense of the other. Pennsylvania is a global leader in energy production and reducing emissions, and policies going forward should build on this progress. We await details on the governor’s proposals, which raise significant questions and concerns about the impacts on our residents, businesses, the environment, and our economy. We encourage the governor to work in a collaborative way with additional stakeholders and the legislature to address important questions pertaining to the short- and long-term impacts of these policies and develop the best plan for Pennsylvania.”

You can read more about the governor’s proposal (and the initial response from Pennsylvania’s business community) in the Central Penn Business Journal and the Pennsylvania Business Report.

PA Chamber Statement on Gov. Shapiro’s New Energy Proposals

HARRISBURG – Today, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein released the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s announcement of two new energy programs for Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) and the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS):

“We all share the goals of protecting our environment and growing our economy – and, one does not have to come at the expense of the other. Pennsylvania is a global leader in energy production and reducing emissions, and policies going forward should build on this progress. We await details on the governor’s proposals, which raise significant questions and concerns about the impacts on our residents, businesses, the environment, and our economy. We encourage the governor to work in a collaborative way with additional stakeholders and the legislature to address important questions pertaining to the short- and long-term impacts of these policies and develop the best plan for Pennsylvania.

PA Chamber Leads Energy Coalition Letter to Gov. Shapiro, Lawmakers

HARRISBURG – The Stop New Energy Taxes coalition, led by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and comprising prominent industry associations across Pennsylvania, today issued a joint letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, calling for legislative action to ensure a robust and reliable energy supply for the Commonwealth’s businesses and families.

In its letter, the coalition, which represents a diverse array of Pennsylvania’s business and industry sectors, advocated for bipartisan collaboration in crafting innovative and effective public policies to ensure the continued vitality and reliability of the Commonwealth’s energy supply.

Highlighting the absence of calls for new taxes or tax increases in the governor’s recent budget address as a positive sign, the coalition underscored the indispensable role played by Pennsylvania’s energy industry in bolstering the state’s broader economic landscape.

“Pennsylvania is a global energy leader that is home to abundant natural resources, industry thought leaders, and cutting-edge innovators,” the letter reads, emphasizing Pennsylvania’s legacy of energy leadership and its potential for continued growth.

The coalition also expressed confidence in how forward-thinking public policies and robust partnerships between industry and government can sustain and enhance Pennsylvania’s global energy position.

“Through bipartisan cooperation, we have the opportunity to develop and advance policies, such as permitting reform, that promote domestic energy production and its use in legacy and emerging industries,” the letter continues.

“The Commonwealth’s energy success story is still being written, and we all have an opportunity and responsibility to ensure current and future chapters in this story are defined by themes of innovation, global leadership, and economic growth.”

Full text of the letter is available here.

PA Chamber: Commonwealth Court Decision Overturning RGGI a Win for Consumers and An Opportunity for Long-Term Solutions

HARRISBURG – Luke Bernstein, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, issued the following statement in response to today’s Commonwealth Court decision that found former Gov. Tom Wolf’s attempt to enter Pennsylvania into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to be unconstitutional:

“We agree with the Commonwealth Court’s conclusion that joining RGGI would result in a tax on energy producers and that only the legislature has the power to tax. We emphasized this point in an amicus brief our organization submitted with several other groups, and we appreciate the Court’s recognition of our concerns.

“We also shared other concerns of business, labor, consumers, and state lawmakers that Pennsylvania’s entrance into RGGI would have threatened to significantly increase energy prices at a time when businesses and families are already facing high prices and the grid operator is raising red flags about the pace of power plant retirements. Policymakers should embrace abundant domestic energy production, facilitate building new infrastructure, support competitive markets, and set long-term policies that encourage innovation and prioritize reliability. This comprehensive approach is congruent with emissions reductions goals, and Pennsylvania – which is second nationally in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions since 2005 – should continue these efforts.

“However, as we noted at the onset and throughout the process, the regulation did not sufficiently protect the state’s electricity and manufacturing sectors, nor did it guard against the potential for significant run-up in electricity or commodity prices. Businesses, whether they generate or consume power, need both affordable energy and long-term certainty.

“We encourage the Governor to let the court’s decision stand and continue working with stakeholders and the General Assembly on policy that leverages our state’s strengths for the benefit of our economy, national security, and the environment.”