Pennsylvania Democrat gov tries new way to make companies pay for emissions after court reject plan

Pennsylvania Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro says his administration will appeal a court ruling that blocked a plan to make the state’s power plant owners pay for their greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan was part of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s climate agenda, and would have made the state the first major oil and gas state to adopt a carbon-pricing program.

Republican lawmakers had argued the plan amounted to a tax, which required legislative approval, according to the Associated Press. Wolf, a Democrat, imposed the requirement through executive order.

The Commonwealth Court agreed the move was unconstitutional and permanently blocked the plan on Nov. 1.

Spotlight PA reports that Shapiro’s appeal is aimed at addressing questions of executive authority and not at getting court approval to allow a carbon-pricing rule to move forward.

Instead, Shapiro is looking to implement an alternative cap-and-trade program, which seeks to achieve emissions reductions through another avenue.