Republicans move to block Gov. Wolf's attempt to 'tax' power plant emissions

Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled House of Representatives moved Wednesday to ensure that it can block Gov. Tom Wolf's effort to impose a price on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants as part of a consortium of states.

Wolf, a Democrat, has made joining the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative a centerpiece of his strategy to fight climate change in a major carbon-polluting state. But it is opposed by lawmakers who are historically protective of Pennsylvania’s coal and natural gas industries.

Republicans joined with 26 Democrats from western and northern Pennsylvania, as well as Democrats aligned with blue-collar labor unions, to pass the bill, 130-71. Four Republicans from southeastern Pennsylvania joined most Democrats in opposition to it.

Under the bill, legislative approval is required to join the consortium, after six months of public comment and four public hearings on the governor's proposed legislation.

Read more: https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-climate-fight-20200708-732jjaryyfa7be56fsjbqzzt6a-story.html
(Allentown Morning Call)