Berks County News

On November 1, 2023, Congressman Dan Meuser expressed his approval of the Commonwealth Court's decision regarding Pennsylvania's membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The court ruled that former Governor Wolf's unilateral action to join RGGI was unconstitutional.

Congressman Meuser stated, “I’m pleased the Commonwealth Court has ruled former Governor Wolf’s unilateral decision to enter Pennsylvania into RGGI unconstitutional. Pennsylvania, as the second largest energy-producing state in the country, should not be beholden to unmeetable standards set by states like Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, and others." He emphasized that Pennsylvania's energy industry is distinct from other states involved in RGGI and argued that the initiative's standards are incompatible with Pennsylvania’s production capabilities.

Meuser highlighted Pennsylvania's potential to increase natural gas capacity while providing clean and affordable energy. He remarked that "Pennsylvania’s goal should be to increase natural gas capacity to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy to our residents, the country, and the world in a manner that lowers carbon emissions responsibly and realistically." He also mentioned that RGGI threatened approximately 123,000 natural gas jobs within the state.

In early 2021, members of Pennsylvania’s Republican Congressional delegation had voiced their concerns about joining RGGI in a letter addressed to then-Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell.