HARRISBURG – State Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield) is applauding Senate passage of a House bill, which gives the Pennsylvania General Assembly a voice in determining environmental policy with regard to carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. House Bill 2354, authored by Rep. Pam Snyder (D-Fayette/Greene/Washington) is now eligible to be signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett.
“Current policy on carbon dioxide emissions is pretty much a one-way street with the federal government telling us what they want and our Department of Environmental Resources figuring out how to get it done on their own,” Sankey said. “House Bill 2354 gives Pennsylvanians an active voice through their legislators and makes the process a bit more rigorous.”
House Bill 2354 requires the Department of Environmental Resources (DEP) to develop and submit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a state plan for compliance with the requirements of the EPA’s regulation of carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. That plan will be formulated through public input and at least four public hearings to be conducted across the Commonwealth.
“Regions of the state that would be negatively impacted by plant closings will have an opportunity to weigh in on the proposal,” added Sankey. “DEP will get an up-close-and-personal look at how their plans will impact local communities and Pennsylvania in general.”
DEP must then submit the plan to the General Assembly, which could force DEP to make modifications and resubmit it.
“The goal is simply to give those who are impacted the most a hand in determining Pennsylvania’s environmental course,” said Sankey.
Questions about this or any legislative issue may be directed to Sankey’s Clearfield office at 814-765-0609 or his Osceola Mills office at 814-339-6544.