Tell Governor Shapiro to Work to Build a Cleaner, Greener Pennsylvania

From the Environmental Defense Fund (https://www.edf.org/):

Last week, Josh Shapiro was sworn in as the new governor of Pennsylvania. Over the next four years, he has the immense opportunity and responsibility of building a cleaner and healthier future for Pennsylvanians by cutting climate-warming pollution, winning clean energy jobs and protecting consumers from fossil fuel-driven price shocks on electric bills.

Make sure Governor Shapiro knows what he must do during his time in office! Send him a message now at https://act.edfaction.org/ax1zjdt and tell him: “We’re counting on you to build a cleaner, greener Pennsylvania!”

From record heat waves that pushed temperatures into the triple digits, to extreme weather events like Hurricane Ida, communities across the Commonwealth have been on the front lines of climate change. Now, as residents of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia continue to face alarming levels of dangerous air pollution, we know that we need strong leadership to build a cleaner future.

Governor Shapiro has, fortunately, committed to science-based climate goals such as reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. At his fingertips, he has several resources he can build on to help achieve these goals, including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the once-in-a-generation funds for clean energy from last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.

RGGI is a key that Pennsylvania needs to unlock real progress on climate. Under this proven, market-based program, a declining limit is set on carbon pollution from power plants. As the amount of pollution allowed declines over time, utilities and power companies are incentivized to invest in clean energy such as wind and solar. Because our state’s power sector is the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide pollution in the country, RGGI matters not only for Pennsylvania but also the entire nation. As the second largest natural gas producing state, Pennsylvania also has a responsibility to be a national leader in cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.

Ultimately, Governor Shapiro is going to need to take an all-of-the-above approach to reining in pollution – we do not have time to waste and need to use every tool we can to drive down climate-warming pollution.

Fortunately, the new Governor has the public on his side: the majority of Pennsylvania voters want less air pollution and more climate action. As Governor Shapiro settles into his new job, now is the right time to tell him: “This is our moment for climate action! Use every tool at your disposal to turn the page on fossil fuels and build the clean energy economy we deserve.”