CONTACT: DKC News, MomsCleanAirForce@dkcnews.com
Harrisburg, PA — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro and top legislators reached a budget deal, that kills Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI has a proven track record of improving public health and saving families money while helping to cut carbon pollution from the region’s power plants in half. The governor’s decision to trade away RGGI in budget negotiations is a huge blow to the health of Pennsylvania families and regional air pollution reduction efforts, given that Pennsylvania’s power sector is one of the most polluting in the country.
Upon the announcement, Moms Clean Air Force Senior National Field Director and Pennsylvania resident Patrice Tomcik released the following statement:
“By trading away RGGI, Governor Shapiro has sacrificed progress on climate and air pollution based on politics that prioritize industry over our children’s health. He is ignoring the voices of millions in his state—and across the country, as we saw in last week’s elections—who want healthcare and safety as non-negotiables. The fact that RGGI has been stripped away is a blow to my family and to thousands of families across Pennsylvania who deserve a strong climate and energy affordability program.
“As a mother, I worry about what’s in the air my children breathe every day, especially my youngest, who is a cancer survivor and has a compromised immune system. I try to make his home environment as healthy as possible, but I can’t control the air my son breathes when he goes to school or plays sports outside. For that, I depend on our leaders, like Governor Shapiro and the state legislature, to do their jobs and protect him with comprehensive and meaningful pollution protections. RGGI was the single most effective tool we have in this state for cleaning up the air our children breathe and has been shown to improve public health by cutting pollution that can increase the risk of asthma attacks, heart disease, pre-term births, low birth weights, and even cancer—all while lowering energy bills and health care costs at a time when so many families are struggling to make ends meet.
“Governor Shapiro has made a decision in this pivotal moment to trade away a program that would improve air quality and affordability, rather than stand up for the health and wellbeing of the families he was elected to serve. While parents across the Commonwealth are glad to see investments in schools move forward in this budget, we will continue to hold the governor accountable for meaningful initiatives that provide the clean air and affordable clean energy solutions our children and future generations deserve.”