Jul. 21, 2020
HARRISBURG – At today’s House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing, Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset/Bedford) voiced his opposition to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and his support for Pennsylvania’s energy industry, along with the jobs it supports in western Pennsylvania.
“RGGI would be disastrous for Pennsylvania's economy, energy jobs and energy consumers. The administration has not sought any input from stakeholders or economists in their decision to join RGGI, and they have ignored the General Assembly entirely in their unilateral decision-making process,” said Metzgar. “Numerous power plants have stated that if RGGI is enacted in Pennsylvania, they will be forced to close or move to another state. To date, there has been no engagement from the administration on what will be done to replace the jobs lost, rehabilitate the sites of shuttered power plants and replace the lost revenue to local governments – especially school districts.”
“Our job as representatives is to be the voice of the people, and the governor’s unilateral course of action is effectively silencing that voice – your voice,” Metzgar continued. “I will never stop giving a voice to Pennsylvanians and fighting for your best interests, and I will continue to do all in my power to do so.”
Testifiers in today’s hearing included Shawn Steffee of Boilermakers Local 154. Metzgar had the opportunity to ask Steffee how he felt about some legislators voting against
House Bill 2025, authored by Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana), which would require legislative authorization before a program such as RGGI could be enacted in Pennsylvania.
Steffe’s response to Metzgar’s question can be heard here.
Representative Carl Walker Metzgar
69th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Kevin DiGuiseppe
717.260.6419 (office), 610.937.4679 (cell)
Kdiguiseppe@pahousegop.com
RepMetzgar.com