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."
low-income ratepayers.
Remove the waste coal set aside program
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.