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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 13, 2015 03:38 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Patrick J. Stefano |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Resolution Urging DEP to Seek Two-Year Waiver for Clean Power Plan & Requiring a Compliance Cost Study |
In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution urging the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to request a two-year extension for submitting a final plan to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule to reduce carbon emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units, commonly referred to as the “Clean Power Plan”. Additionally, the resolution will require a cost of compliance study to be completed prior to the submission of a final implementation plan. In October, the EPA announced the final “Clean Power Plan” rule mandating state-specific carbon emission reduction targets for existing power plants and setting guidelines for the development, submission and implementation of a state implementation plan to achieve these reductions. The rule requires states to submit a final implementation plan by September 6, 2016; or to request a 2-year extension until September 6, 2018 to submit a final plan. Despite widespread opposition and forthcoming legal challenges to this rule, the Governor and the Secretary of DEP have chosen to fast-track Pennsylvania’s compliance with the Clean Power Plan and have indicated Pennsylvania will submit a final implementation plan to the EPA by September 6, 2016. Like me, I am sure many of you are concerned about the impact this new rule will have on Pennsylvania’s economy and, if not properly managed, the disastrous consequences it could have on the Commonwealth’s position as an exporter of electric power generation. Until legal challenges to this rule have been decided and a full review of the economic impacts of this rule on Pennsylvania have been completed, I believe it is in the best interest of Pennsylvania to request an extension for submitting a final plan to comply. The resolution will also require the Legislative Budget and Finance Agency to conduct a cost compliance study prior to submission of a final implementation plan. This study will focus on the impacts and costs of the implementation plan on new and existing electric generation units, as well as other components, including reliability, ratepayer impact, feasibility and other factors. The 32nd Senatorial District, made up of the coal patch towns of Fayette, Somerset and Southern Westmoreland Counties, should serve as a cautionary tale to our commonwealth about turning over our energy policy to the EPA too rapidly. In the past few years, we have seen mines idled, power plants closed and families’ lives completely upended as they lost their family sustaining jobs in the coal industry. I ask you to please join me in co-sponsoring this important resolution to ensure we make an informed decision on mitigating the impact of this plan. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above information, please contact Mark Fetzko or Ben Wren of my office. |
Introduced as SR277