NASDAQ : ADVISORY – HARRISBURG – FEB. 13 – DEP to Unveil Draft Regulations to Cap CO2 Emissions Using RGGI Model

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Thursday, February 13, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will unveil preliminary draft regulations to allow Pennsylvania to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

DEP will provide details about the preliminary rulemaking language, which would design a carbon dioxide trading program in Pennsylvania using the RGGI Model Rule but also incorporating revisions and additions specific to Pennsylvania, to the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee (AQTAC) at its bimonthly meeting in Harrisburg.

RGGI is a market-based collaboration among 10 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while generating economic growth. Governor Tom Wolf issued an Executive Order in October 2019 instructing DEP to begin the regulatory process of participating in RGGI.

The preliminary draft is consistent with the RGGI Model Rule but has several specific distinctions: it adds a waste coal set-aside allowance allocation; it adds a qualifying offset for abandoned well plugging; it provides flexibility for on-site generation tied to manufacturing facilities; and it includes an auction provision, indicating that DEP will determine whether to participate in a multi-state auction based on certain factors or hold a Pennsylvania-run auction.

At this time, this preliminary draft will be presented to AQTAC for informational purposes only; a draft proposed regulation, as required by the governor's Executive Order, will be presented to the Environmental Quality Board on July 21.

WHAT: Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee meeting
WHEN: Thursday, February 13, 2020, at 9:15 AM
WHERE: Room 105 of the Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101

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