RGGI will protect, prepare Pa. for the future
We can officially say we’ve experienced what it’s like to be unprepared for the “worst-case scenario.” While the federal government has taken some efforts to help our communities with the COVID-19 crisis, at the end of this it will be up to Pennsylvanians’ to fully restore our state. This is a moment for us to step back and take a hard look at what systems are (and are not) working for us.
While we’re still tackling the coronavirus now, we can’t pretend that another crisis in the form of a changing climate isn’t looming before us. We now have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild our economy and prepare our state for future challenges with the climate and natural world in mind. An important and timely step we can take is to support a strong Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
RGGI is a multistate initiative that limits climate disrupting carbon dioxide pollution from power plants. Polluters must purchase allowances, and the proceeds from those allowances can be reinvested in programs that further limit pollution and energy waste to help build a clean energy economy. Let’s break down the benefits of RGGI to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, diversify Pennsylvania’s economy, help save lives and keep Pennsylvania a state of prosperity.
Just last month, the Keystone State lost an estimated 6,070 jobs in renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric cars and related sectors. The RGGI program would help reverse that, signaling support for low-carbon jobs while creating thousands more in clean energy and efficiency that reduce pollution and help stabilize our climate, ensuring a healthier — and safer — state.
From 2015-2017 alone, the RGGI region (currently made up of northeastern states from Maine to Maryland) gained $1.4 billion in net economic value — or $34 in value added per capita — from the program’s implementation, while gross domestic product grew by 47% in RGGI states. At the same time, electricity prices dropped by 5.7% in participating states, even as they went up by 8.6% throughout the rest of the country.
While these states saw increased revenue, and reduced carbon pollution that drives climate change, they also benefited from lower levels of co-pollutants (such as particulate matter, NOx and air toxics released by the burning of fossil fuels) as generation switched from older, dirty plants to cleaner energy. This means lower asthma and premature death rates.
Earlier this year, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study concluded that Pennsylvania ranks 3rd for premature deaths caused by air pollution with more than 4,800 residents dying prematurely in 2018. Reducing this will be important in preparing for future pandemics and as the climate gets hotter.
Increasing air pollution will become exceedingly dangerous as heat-related deaths become more frequent, along with severe weather events. The COVID-19 crisis has emphasized this risk. A recent Harvard study directly linked increased pollution exposure to increased mortality rates from the virus. Low-income communities have frequently borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution.
RGGI can help change this reality. An Acadia Institute study showed RGGI states collectively reduced emissions by 47% in the last decade, outpacing the rest of the U.S. by 90%. Let’s reinvest the revenues collected from carbon allowances to further reduce air pollution in overburdened communities and protect ourselves from future health risks.
Most important, Pennsylvanians are demanding climate action in our state. In a poll last year, 68% of Pennsylvanians said they wanted more action from our government on climate including prioritizing clean energy. The COVID-19 crisis hasn’t changed this demand either, as another poll released last week found that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support prioritizing clean energy in any crisis-related economic stimulus. Policies like RGGI were a good idea before the COVID-19 crisis, and they are even more important now.
This week, the Department of Environmental Protection released the first draft of a proposed RGGI program and it shows Gov. Tom Wolf is serious about acting on climate. Benjamin Franklin once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” A strong RGGI program in Pennsylvania will protect us today and prepare us for a more resilient future.