PRINTER'S NO. 732
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 20070H0110R0732 - 2 -
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 20070H0110R0732 - 3 -
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. A23L82DMS/20070H0110R0732 - 4 -