HARRISBURG — Citing the loss of Pennsylvania jobs, inflated energy prices and lost economic opportunities to other states, several House Republican members called on Gov. Josh Shapiro to accept the recent Commonwealth Court decision that Pennsylvania’s enrollment in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is unconstitutional and to appeal it.

Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court voided Pennsylvania’s entrance into RGGI, a multi-state energy tax program that would have increased the costs to heat homes and turn on lights.

Joining RGGI was first pursued by former Gov. Tom Wolf, who bypassed the General Assembly and enrolled Pennsylvania into RGGI by executive order. Without having gone through the General Assembly, the court ruled it was an overstep in executive power.

“Commonwealth Court struck down RGGI with good reason. The former governor went around the General Assembly to enact a disastrous tax on our energy producers,” said Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Republican Chairman Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint. “Gov. Shapiro, please don’t waste any more taxpayer dollars by appealing a policy that will increase energy costs on Pennsylvanians.”

Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council made a similar request.

“We respectfully ask the governor to honor the court decision and allow the energy generation market in Pennsylvania to stabilize and encourage more investment from our energy partners,” said Michael Ford, secretary/treasurer of the council. “The trades look forward to working with both chambers and the executive branch to chart an energy policy for our Commonwealth that retains Pennsylvania’s status as the number one energy-exporting state while protecting the environment and expanding our economic growth.”