Shapiro Shouldn’t Get In the Way of PA’s Energy Momentum

Originally published in RealClearPennsylvania.

All eyes were on Pennsylvania last week for the “Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit”—an event highlighting what role the commonwealth’s energy sector will play in the future of artificial intelligence and other technological advancements. The event featured prominent political figures, such as President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. David McCormick, and Gov. Josh Shapiro.  

Yet, one of these things is most certainly not like the others—especially when it comes to energy policy. Shapiro, the lone Democrat to present at the forum, stood out like a vegetarian at a McDonald’s. But this stark contrast had little to do with his partisan affiliation and everything to do with the governor’s antithetical energy platform.  

For example, the governor has flip-flopped on Pennsylvania’s membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the multistate compact that imposes a carbon tax on energy producers in participating states. As a candidate, Shapiro said RGGI did not represent “real action.” And he was right: an analysis by Power PA Jobs suggests that RGGI’s carbon tax would increase electricity prices for Pennsylvania ratepayers by 30 percent. Pennsylvanians, already weary from paying their exorbitant utility bills, won’t be pleased with the rate hike RGGI promises.   

Read more at RealClearPennsylvania.