Contact: Brooke Petry, bpetry@momscleanairforce.org, (215) 326-9628
HARRISBURG, PA – Yesterday, Governor Wolf vetoed and disapproved Senate Concurrent Regulatory Review Resolution 1, which would have disabled the commonwealth’s opportunity to link to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and effectively achieve climate goals and reduce carbon emissions. In response to the veto, Brooke Petry, Pennsylvania state coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force, issued the following statement:
“Moms across the commonwealth thank Governor Wolf for his veto of this resolution. This action will help protect children’s health and the climate from the power sector’s dirty air pollution. We should seize every opportunity to reduce carbon and the associated harmful air pollution from the power sector, which can improve public health by reducing asthma attacks, heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, cancer and premature death. Because environmental justice communities suffer disproportionately from pollution and climate change impacts, it is imperative that these communities benefit the most from a rule that reduces carbon pollution from the power sector.
“An analysis by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) indicates that participation in RGGI will result in a reduction of up to 639 premature deaths from respiratory illnesses and 30,000 fewer hospital visits for respiratory illnesses like asthma for children. This is further supported by a first-of-its-kind study that shows by lowering harmful soot from power plants, RGGI has helped to avoid asthma attacks, pre-term births, low birth weight, and more. The health benefits were quantified between $191 million and $350 million.
“Pennsylvania is the third largest greenhouse gas-polluting state and is home to the fourth dirtiest power sector in the nation. Linking to a program such as RGGI is critical to protecting children’s health.”