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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 732

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 110 Session of 2007


        INTRODUCED BY ROSS, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CURRY, DePASQUALE,
           FABRIZIO, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY,
           HERSHEY, JOSEPHS, MANDERINO, MANN, MOYER, MUNDY, NAILOR,
           M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, PETRI, PHILLIPS,
           READSHAW, RUBLEY, SANTONI, SCHRODER, STERN, THOMAS,
           VULAKOVICH, WANSACZ, WATSON, WHEATLEY, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK
           AND SIPTROTH, MARCH 9, 2007

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
           MARCH 9, 2007

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Directing the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to
     2     study and report on the issue of methods to reduce greenhouse
     3     gas emissions.

     4     WHEREAS, There is growing scientific consensus that the
     5  global climate is warming at rates that could cause significant
     6  temperature increases and weather pattern changes across the
     7  globe; and
     8     WHEREAS, Various scientific organizations such as the
     9  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the National
    10  Academy of Science have presented a variety of studies
    11  describing the potential short-term and long-term effects
    12  associated with rising global temperatures; and
    13     WHEREAS, These studies have shown that atmospheric levels of
    14  carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse
    15  gases are at their highest since this data was recorded; and


     1     WHEREAS, A portion of this global increase in atmospheric
     2  greenhouse gases is attributable to human activity such as the
     3  combustion of fossil fuels and the use of vehicles for
     4  transportation; and
     5     WHEREAS, An inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from within
     6  this Commonwealth conducted by The Pennsylvania State University
     7  in 2002 identified the types and levels of these emissions from
     8  various sectors within this Commonwealth; and
     9     WHEREAS, Mitigation efforts will be necessary to reduce
    10  greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation efforts will be needed
    11  to help Pennsylvanians work toward reducing the effects of
    12  greenhouse gas emissions; and
    13     WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has taken a leadership role in reducing
    14  greenhouse gas emissions by implementing the Alternative Energy
    15  Portfolio Standards, by initiating programs to accelerate the
    16  use of alternative fuels, and by conducting research,
    17  development and deployment of clean energy technologies; and
    18     WHEREAS, A variety of Pennsylvania-based companies have taken
    19  leadership roles in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in
    20  developing new technologies and products that will reduce these
    21  emissions; and
    22     WHEREAS, It has been demonstrated that strategies to reduce
    23  greenhouse gas emissions can lower business operating costs and
    24  increase profitability; and
    25     WHEREAS, Many of the technologies that reduce greenhouse gas
    26  emissions also have the potential for cost savings to
    27  Pennsylvania consumers, generating savings across a variety of
    28  economic sectors, potentially increasing spending, creating jobs
    29  and providing an overall benefit to the State economy; and
    30     WHEREAS, The Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
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     1  held two public meetings on the subject of global climate change
     2  and greenhouse gas emissions which provided input to the
     3  committee clearly demonstrating the need for additional research
     4  and careful consideration of future policy or legislative
     5  actions related to the effects of climate change and greenhouse
     6  gas reduction strategies on Pennsylvania; and
     7     WHEREAS, These meetings also raised the possibility that if
     8  greenhouse gas emissions policies are not properly developed,
     9  the economy of this Commonwealth could be placed at serious risk
    10  and its economic competitiveness with other states could be
    11  significantly jeopardized; and
    12     WHEREAS, While there are a variety of options and
    13  technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a State
    14  level, it is necessary to fully understand the implications and
    15  effects of each and to ensure that strategies are carefully
    16  selected so their implementation does not have an adverse impact
    17  on any one sector of the economy of this Commonwealth; therefore
    18  be it
    19     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
    20  Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to:
    21         (1)  Gather public input to identify potential cost-
    22     effective options that could be undertaken by various sectors
    23     of this Commonwealth's economy to reduce greenhouse gas
    24     emissions.
    25         (2)  Utilize the public hearing process to identify those
    26     policy and technology options that will reduce greenhouse gas
    27     emissions while also identifying options that will not have
    28     an adverse impact on this Commonwealth's economy.
    29         (3)  Determine the advantages and disadvantages of
    30     establishing a Statewide climate action registry which
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     1     generally would record actions taken by various entities to
     2     reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
     3         (4)  Prepare a report to the General Assembly that will:
     4             (i)  describe the public hearing process undertaken;
     5             (ii)  describe the variety of policy and
     6         technological options for reducing greenhouse gas
     7         emissions recommended through the public input process;
     8             (iii)  include a list of those options that have the
     9         greatest potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
    10         while enhancing the economic competitiveness of all
    11         sectors of this Commonwealth's economy; and
    12             (iv)  include recommendations for future action as
    13         may be needed by the General Assembly.












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