HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) \u2014 The $50 billion Pennsylvania budget was more than legislative Republicans wanted to spend, but they did it because Democrats agreed to stop pursuing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is a tax on carbon polluters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a nail not only in the Boilermakers coffin when RGGI came into play, it was a nail in our knees,\u201d said Shawn Steffee, business agent for Boilermakers Local 154 Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
Close<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Watch for us in your inbox.<\/p>\n Subscribe Now<\/p>\n In 2019, then Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed an executive order seeking to join RGGI. The compact with 11 other states sets a goal to reduce planet-warming emissions and requires power plants to purchase allowances to release carbon dioxide.<\/p>\n It has been paused since then as it went through court challenges, never coming into effect in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n Now, GOP lawmakers said they\u2019ve charted a new path for the state that will welcome power producers promising trade jobs and lower electric bills.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a total reset for what is the dominant economic driver of this Commonwealth, and that\u2019s the production of energy and electricity,\u201d said Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R).<\/p>\n But some Democrats are frustrated with their party\u2019s concession. Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware County) called Republican colleagues \u201cclimate deniers.\u201d<\/p>\n Vitali\u2019s anger extends to his own party and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), too.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason why RGGI was on the chopping block was Governor Shapiro never supported it,\u201d Vitali said.<\/p>\n Shapiro insists the state can both promote energy production and protect the environment. There\u2019s no argument against that from Republicans.<\/p>\n