HARRISBURG, Pa. A gas preemption bill in the state Senate would prevent Pennsylvania municipalities from adopting policies to restrict or prohibit methane gas use in new homes and buildings, in favor of using electricity. Critics of the measure say it could especially hurt areas like Bethlehem, which has its own climate plan and has reduced municipal greenhouse-gas emissions by 37% from 2005 to 2017. .
StateImpact Pennsylvania
State Senate Republicans say they will block Gov. Tom Wolf’s appointments to Pennsylvania’s utility regulator unless he stops his effort to have the state join a regional cap-and-trade program targeting power plant emissions.
It’s the latest escalation of their fight against the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which they say will hurt coal communities.
The move shocked some environmental and consumer protection groups, who say Republicans are holding the Public Utility Commission hostage over an unrelated policy decision.
The PUC has been short a member since last April, when Andrew Place resigned after serving one five-year term.
Philadelphia and three other suburban municipalities, including two on the Main Line, are suing Pennsylvania over what they say was an abuse of legislative.
Philadelphia and three other municipalities in Pennsylvania sued the state over what they say was a covert abuse of legislative power to block local bans or taxes on plastic bags.
Pennsylvania hauled to court over blocking plastic bag bans 6abc.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 6abc.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.