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PA Chamber Reacts to Shapiro’s Energy Plan

In a press conference last Wednesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two new energy proposals his administration hopes to pass through the state legislature. The first is a state-specific cap-and-invest program known as the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER), which the governor framed as an alternative to Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

The other proposal, called the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS), would require that 50 percent of the state’s electricity come from diverse sources by 2035, including 35 percent from clean energy such as solar and wind, 10 percent from sustainable sources like hydropower and battery storage, and five percent from low-emission natural gas and other fuels.

In response, PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein released the following statement:

“We all share the goals of protecting our environment and growing our economy – and, one does not have to come at the expense of the other. Pennsylvania is a global leader in energy production and reducing emissions, and policies going forward should build on this progress. We await details on the governor’s proposals, which raise significant questions and concerns about the impacts on our residents, businesses, the environment, and our economy. We encourage the governor to work in a collaborative way with additional stakeholders and the legislature to address important questions pertaining to the short- and long-term impacts of these policies and develop the best plan for Pennsylvania.”

You can read more about the governor’s proposal (and the initial response from Pennsylvania’s business community) in the Central Penn Business Journal and the Pennsylvania Business Report.

PA Chamber Statement on Gov. Shapiro’s New Energy Proposals

HARRISBURG – Today, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein released the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s announcement of two new energy programs for Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) and the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS):

“We all share the goals of protecting our environment and growing our economy – and, one does not have to come at the expense of the other. Pennsylvania is a global leader in energy production and reducing emissions, and policies going forward should build on this progress. We await details on the governor’s proposals, which raise significant questions and concerns about the impacts on our residents, businesses, the environment, and our economy. We encourage the governor to work in a collaborative way with additional stakeholders and the legislature to address important questions pertaining to the short- and long-term impacts of these policies and develop the best plan for Pennsylvania.

PA Chamber Leads Energy Coalition Letter to Gov. Shapiro, Lawmakers

HARRISBURG – The Stop New Energy Taxes coalition, led by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and comprising prominent industry associations across Pennsylvania, today issued a joint letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, calling for legislative action to ensure a robust and reliable energy supply for the Commonwealth’s businesses and families.

In its letter, the coalition, which represents a diverse array of Pennsylvania’s business and industry sectors, advocated for bipartisan collaboration in crafting innovative and effective public policies to ensure the continued vitality and reliability of the Commonwealth’s energy supply.

Highlighting the absence of calls for new taxes or tax increases in the governor’s recent budget address as a positive sign, the coalition underscored the indispensable role played by Pennsylvania’s energy industry in bolstering the state’s broader economic landscape.

“Pennsylvania is a global energy leader that is home to abundant natural resources, industry thought leaders, and cutting-edge innovators,” the letter reads, emphasizing Pennsylvania’s legacy of energy leadership and its potential for continued growth.

The coalition also expressed confidence in how forward-thinking public policies and robust partnerships between industry and government can sustain and enhance Pennsylvania’s global energy position.

“Through bipartisan cooperation, we have the opportunity to develop and advance policies, such as permitting reform, that promote domestic energy production and its use in legacy and emerging industries,” the letter continues.

“The Commonwealth’s energy success story is still being written, and we all have an opportunity and responsibility to ensure current and future chapters in this story are defined by themes of innovation, global leadership, and economic growth.”

Full text of the letter is available here.