Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Eugene

(62,775 posts)
Wed Nov 1, 2023, 06:12 PM Nov 2023

Pennsylvania court permanently blocks effort to make power plants pay for greenhouse gas emissions

Source: Associated Press

Pennsylvania court permanently blocks effort to make power plants pay for greenhouse gas emissions

BY MARC LEVY
Updated 3:32 PM EDT, November 1, 2023

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania cannot enforce a regulation to make power plant owners pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, a state court ruled Wednesday, dealing another setback to the centerpiece of former Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to fight global warming.

The Commonwealth Court last year temporarily blocked Pennsylvania from becoming the first major fossil fuel-producing state to adopt a carbon-pricing program, and the new ruling makes that decision permanent.

The ruling is a victory for Republican lawmakers and coal-related interests that argued that the carbon-pricing plan amounted to a tax, and therefore would have required legislative approval. Wolf, a Democrat, had sought to get around legislative opposition by unconstitutionally imposing the requirement through a regulation, they said.

The court agreed in a 4-1 decision.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-pennsylvania-power-plants-energy-shapiro-e6315cb32a7a7be57ddcad9ad0567e4b

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Pennsylvania court perman...