Energy
Preventing Pennsylvania from Powering Down: Analysis of Governor Shapiro’s PACER and PRESS Proposals
Key Findings The Price Tag: Governor Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) and Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) proposals would impose $157.2 billion in new electricity costs on…
Read More: Preventing Pennsylvania from Powering Down: Analysis of Governor Shapiro’s PACER and PRESS ProposalsMission Statement
The Commonwealth Foundation promotes market-driven solutions for energy policy that will benefit all Pennsylvanians. These policies must prioritize reliability, affordability, fairness, competition, and innovation, paving the way for Pennsylvania to embrace all its energy resources and unlock its full economic potential.
Energy
Energy Costs and Regulations Threaten PA’s Tech Boom
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Pennsylvania is on the short list of destinations for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). However, the commonwealth—thanks to ill-advised policies pushed by…
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PRESS Passes Out of Committee, Threatening Another Hike in Electric Bills
Harrisburg, Pa., June 2, 2025 —Today, the Pennsylvania House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee passed House Bill 501, one legislative component of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s overarching energy proposal known…
Press Release
Read More: PRESS Passes Out of Committee, Threatening Another Hike in Electric BillsEnergy
Governor Shapiro’s Green New Deal Will Cost Families
Originally published by RealClearEnergy. Gov. Josh Shapiro is a classic political flip-flopper. And his latest energy proposals demonstrate his wishy-washiness. When he ran for the state’s highest office in 2022,…
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Shapiro Must Lead, Not Litigate
Originally published by PennLive. Gov. Josh Shapiro seems less interested in governing and more interested in reliving his days as attorney general. A federal judge recently …
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New Poll: Pennsylvanians Demand Energy Affordability
Voters strongly oppose Gov. Josh Shapiro’s top priorities, including RGGI, mass transit bailout, and government energy mandates. Harrisburg, Pa., May 29, 2025 — Two-thirds of Pennsylvanians are unaware of…
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: Pennsylvanians Demand Energy AffordabilityEnergy
New Report: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Energy Proposals Will Double Electric Bills
The report finds PACER and PRESS proposals would impose massive increases to household electricity rates. Harrisburg, Pa., May 27, 2025 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released its latest…
Press Release
Read More: New Report: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Energy Proposals Will Double Electric BillsEnergy
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGI
Harrisburg, Pa., May 12, 2025 – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow in Harrisburg on the constitutionality of the controversial Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Pennsylvania entered RGGI…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on RGGIEnergy
PA Supreme Court Must Strike Down Shapiro’s Energy Tax
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Tomorrow, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will begin oral arguments about an energy tax looming over utility bills in the commonwealth: the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
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State High Court Should Confirm Unconstitutionality of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Originally published by LNP/Lancaster Online. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday on Pennsylvania’s controversial and unconstitutional membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. This multistate cap-and-trade program—illegally…
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Read More: State High Court Should Confirm Unconstitutionality of Regional Greenhouse Gas InitiativeEducation
Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Andrew Lewis, Commonwealth Foundation’s President & CEO, joined Dennis Owens to discuss the education and energy policies that will empower all Pennsylvanians to thrive. Lewis called on Governor Josh…
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Here’s the ‘Green’ Fuel the Left Refuses to Celebrate This Earth Day
Originally published by The Daily Signal. As Earth Day approaches on Tuesday, climate activists remind us of the importance of cutting carbon emissions. Yet, one inconvenient truth escapes their green-tinged talking…
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Read More: Here’s the ‘Green’ Fuel the Left Refuses to Celebrate This Earth DayEnergy
Deficit Watch: April 2025
Improving Pennsylvania’s economy will help close the deficit. Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit.
Deficit Watch
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Gov. Shapiro’s appearance on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ smacked of unreality
Originally published by Lancaster Online. On the March 14 episode of “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Gov. Josh Shapiro gave an unreal performance — literally. Indeed,…
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Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s appearance on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ smacked of unrealityEnergy
IFO Data Shows Pennsylvania’s Emissions Success Story
The Keystone State is lowering emissions and generating more energy without RGGI or PACER taxes. Overview The Keystone State cut total emissions while increasing electricity generation, according to the two…
Fact Sheet
Read More: IFO Data Shows Pennsylvania’s Emissions Success StoryEnergy
Gov. Shapiro’s Energy Policies Will Cost Pennsylvanians
Originally published by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Gov. Josh Shapiro wants you to believe that he is saving you money. “From childcare to health care to energy, we’ve been focused…
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Pennsylvania’s Governor Puts ‘Green’ Messaging Ahead of Realistic Solutions
Originally published in National Review. Leading Democrats still haven’t learned the lesson of their defeat to Donald Trump. Their party is stuck in the political wilderness because they spent four…
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Democrat Governors’ Energy Policies Bend Economics—and Reality
Originally published by Daily Signal. It’s no secret that energy prices are on the rise. High demand for electricity and tight supplies—exacerbated by early retirements of coal-fired power plants—strain grid…
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Pennsylvania Democrats must stop playing politics and unleash American energy
Originally published in Broad + Liberty: Democrats have a demographics problem. In November, voters, even those who historically back Democrats, shifted support to President Donald Trump, Sen. Dave McCormick,…
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Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Releases Analysis of the Governor’s 2025 Budget Proposal
Harrisburg, PA, February 4, 2025 – Massive spending increases proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in his recently released 2025 budget proposal “will force extreme tax hikes on working families in the coming…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield Releases Analysis of the Governor’s 2025 Budget ProposalEducation
Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending Binge
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s radical overspending exacerbates what is already a massive budget deficit. His plan imposes new taxes this year and will force extreme tax hikes on working families…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s 2025 Budget Proposal: An Extreme Spending BingeEnergy
Lawmakers Move to Repeal Shapiro’s Harmful Energy Tax
Harrisburg, Pa., February 4, 2025 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed, with a bipartisan 31-18 vote, legislation to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Gov. Shapiro is currently appealing a Commonwealth…
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Read More: Lawmakers Move to Repeal Shapiro’s Harmful Energy Tax