Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
RGGI is a market-based program that has a proven track record across states stretching from Maine to Virginia. It is improving public health and generating billions of dollars in proceeds to invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other job creation and consumer programs.
International events have made it clear that Pennsylvania — and the United States — must move swiftly to a clean energy economy that will lower costs, protect our national security, and secure our energy independence.
By joining Pennsylvania to RGGI, we can cap harmful carbon pollution from power plants and generate proceeds in the hundreds of millions of dollars per year for Pennsylvania. There are many reasons why joining to RGGI is right for Pennsylvania — see more information about some of those reasons below.
In 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro pulled together a diverse group of shareholders to form a RGGI Working Group, tasked with coming up with a recommendation for the governor on how to proceed on his priorities of protecting and creating energy jobs; taking real action to address climate change; and ensuring reliable, affordable power for consumers in the long term.
In the end, the RGGI Working Group came to an agreement on the vital need for Pennsylvania to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and we support its consensus that the best approach for doing so is a market-based power sector carbon pollution cap-and-invest program that generates revenue to support the Commonwealth’s energy transition. RGGI is the obvious vehicle to advance the unanimous priorities of the working group. The working group’s conclusions align with how RGGI has worked successfully in numerous neighboring states.
The recent Commonwealth Court decision ruling that Pennsylvania entered into RGGI unconstitutionally is misguided. Governor Shapiro has made clear his commitment to tackling the climate crisis while creating jobs, protecting communities, and positioning Pennsylvania to lead in the ongoing energy transition. The governor should appeal, and we believe the state Supreme Court will reverse the order.
A coalition of 33 organizations delivered the below letter to the governor urging him to vigorously defend RGGI in the courts, including appealing the Commonwealth Court decision, and to immediately launch a process to develop a comprehensive plan for the equitable allocation of RGGI proceeds.