How PA should subsidize the remediation of waste coal piles - HEARING
Pennsylvania Public hearing on "How PA should subsidize the remediation of waste coal piles."
While we support the rule, we recognize there is room for improvement. For example, while the purpose of the CO₂ Budget Trading Program is to reduce carbon pollution, the proposal takes the unprecedented and unwarranted step to further subsidize one particular category of fossil fuels generation—[highlight]waste[/highlight] [highlight]coal[/highlight]. This highly-polluting source already benefits from preferential treatment in the form of tax breaks and, as a result of recent legislation, will see additional subsidies from increased credit prices under the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Act. While the industry claims they are providing a service in remediating [highlight]waste[/highlight] [highlight]coal[/highlight] piles that pollute the land and water, there is no requirement that generators prioritize the most polluting sources or make a determination that burning the [highlight]waste[/highlight] [highlight]coal[/highlight] is the best alternative in any particular case. The Department should revise the program to eliminate this subsidy.