On Wednesday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the PJM Interconnection, Inc.’s Reliability Resource Initiative (RRI) proposal to “fast track” natural gas power plants at the exclusion of renewable and other clean energy projects, leaving them stuck in the permitting queue.

In response, Carolyn Heckman, Associate Director of Pennsylvania Policy for the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN), released the following statement: 

“In his recent energy address, Governor Shapiro said we want to ‘position the commonwealth to continue to be a national energy leader for decades to come.’ By approving a fast-track proposal that fails to include clean energy projects, FERC’s ruling not only risks Pennsylvania’s energy leadership but also higher energy costs to families and consumers and continued emissions of harmful pollution from power plants. As we consider the known and well-researched health risks from fossil fuel pollution impacting our children and neighbors, as well as the recent PJM cost and reliability concerns, we question whether this is the right path toward the affordable, reliable, and clean energy grid that Pennsylvania needs. While natural gas power plants remain an important part of our current energy mix, in order to fully lower energy costs, meet rising energy demands, and deliver clean air, we need the swift build-out of renewable and clean energy for a secure and diversified grid.”