Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has withdrawn the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to end a budget standoff. (The Grist)
Shapiro argued GOP opponents were using the program as a hostage to stall all other energy talks.
It’s a massive blow to the pact: Pennsylvania is the region’s heavyweight, emitting more carbon from its power sector than all other RGGI states, including New York and New England combined.
The pivot: Shapiro says he’ll pursue a state-specific alternative called “PACER,” but it’ll require passing a law through the same GOP Senate that bogged down RGGI.