Pa.’s clean power plan includes coal and gas

While the final rule for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan may face some legal challenges, Pennsylvania is committed to developing its own complementary plan for cleaner energy.
According to a news release Monday from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the plan will take an “all-of-the-above” approach that the DEP said “could improve public health, address climate change, and improve our economy and power system.”
Pennsylvania’s citizens and businesses will have an opportunity to provide input to the planning process toward a strategy “that is tailored to fit Pennsylvania’s economy,” the DEP said.
“My administration is committed to making the Clean Power Plan work for Pennsylvania,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement in the DEP’s release. “Working with the Legislature, industry leaders and citizens, we will create a plan to ensure these new rules are applied fairly, allow for adjustments, and that they create economic opportunities for the commonwealth’s energy economy.”
Under the plan announced by President Obama on Monday, the U.S. must cut power plant emissions 32 percent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. Obama’s proposed version last year called for a 30 percent cut.
Pennsylvania, which is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is one of 16 states that will have more stringent targets to reduce carbon dioxide than those in Obama’s original proposal.
Thirty-one states’ targets were loosened, but the tougher goals for the others make the overall plan more ambitious than the original proposal.
Wolf said the plan “sets ambitious but achievable goals for reducing carbon emissions statewide and addressing climate change in fair and smart ways that takes into account legitimate concerns of all parties.”
The Keystone State is a large exporter of both coal and natural gas, and – because of its abundant production of both fuels – is also an exporter of electricity to other states. As a result, Wolf and the DEP said both fuels will be part of a clean energy plan going forward.
“Pennsylvania is a leader in energy, and we need to do everything in our power to advance the next generation of energy production while protecting jobs in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “Clean coal is a part of our energy portfolio, as is natural gas, solar, wind and other sources of power, and all of this has to be part of a comprehensive strategy.
“My administration looks forward to working with industry leaders and legislators, as well as citizens, to find the right balance and develop an effective and responsible state plan.”
The final EPA rule will be published in the Federal Register on Sept. 4, and public comment will be taken for the following 60 days.
DEP Secretary John Quigley said additional comment periods will be offered over the next three years as the Pennsylvania plan is drafted and finalized.
“We will make certain that we craft a Pennsylvania solution that protects the state’s vital role as a net electricity exporter,” Quigley said. “Our strategy must ensure we are protecting our diverse resources and creating economic opportunities. We’ll explore different methods of reaching the required reductions, options of partnering with fellow states, and other considerations.”
He said DEP staff have already begun assessing the implications of the Clean Power Plan through the National Governors Association Policy Academy, which is developing detailed economic modeling to find solutions that meet Pennsylvania’s needs.
“Cutting pollution from power plants, utilizing natural gas, supporting nuclear power plants, increasing the amount of renewable energy in Pennsylvania, and improving energy efficiency statewide all can fight climate change and be an economic driver,” Quigley said. “When our businesses upgrade power plants, install solar panels or improve energy efficiency, that’s a win for the environment and a win for Pennsylvania’s economy.”
On Monday, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance CEO John Pippy said his group would work with policymakers to ensure coal continues to supply the commonwealth and surround states with low-cost electricity “while keeping Pennsylvanians employed and the lights on for manufacturers, businesses and residents.”
Pennsylvania is home to one of the largest portions of the Marcellus Shale strata and parts of the Utica Shale, which combined now provide 85 percent of U.S. shale gas production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
David Spigelmyer, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, said natural gas already is playing a major role in reducing CO2 emissions.
“While we’re still reviewing the details of these proposed regulations, the fact that our abundant clean-burning natural gas resources are dramatically enhancing air quality by reducing carbon emissions by 20 percent since 2005 and boosting our economy and manufacturing potential, cannot be lost on anyone,” Spigelmyer said in a statement Tuesday. “At the local, state and federal level, we need clear-eyed and common-sense policies that encourage, rather than discourage, the safe production and use of American energy, which is strengthening our economy, our environment and the nation’s energy security.”