"The economics were unforgiving. PJM Interconnection selects the lowest-cost generators to meet demand. If Pennsylvania plants were forced to shoulder the added cost of carbon allowances(from RGGI) while Ohio and West Virginia plants were not, Pennsylvania would lose bid after bid. “Why would you site a facility here and pay a carbon tax when you can go next door?” Henderson asked. “Eastern Ohio saw development. West Virginia saw development. Pennsylvania did not.”
The problem for Maine and RGGI is that Maine must pay the carbon dioxide tax associated with Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island natural gas and oil plants because Maine along with these other states are intertwined in one network aka ISO-NE. Even if Maine was to move out of RGGI, the ratepayers will be exposed to the carbon dioxide tax from other plants in other states of the network.
And because wind and solar and other renewables qualified to sell generation into the network never set the price as they can bid low thanks to subsidies, nevertheless are paid the carbon dioxide tax with natural gas plants (with no subidies) setting the price including the tax. Once the price is set, all generators are alloted the price that is set.
The current cold weather has meant oil is a price setter and the renewables are raking in fistfuls of money charged to ratepayers in retail sales. This is why the Maine State energy policies are obnoxious.
Power On: What PA’s Battle Over Climate Change Can Teach the Nation |
by Dan McKay
on Wednesday
"The economics were unforgiving. PJM Interconnection selects the lowest-cost generators to meet demand. If Pennsylvania plants were forced to shoulder the added cost of carbon allowances(from RGGI) while Ohio and West Virginia plants were not, Pennsylvania would lose bid after bid. “Why would you site a facility here and pay a carbon tax when you can go next door?” Henderson asked. “Eastern Ohio saw development. West Virginia saw development. Pennsylvania did not.”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/power-what-pas-battle-climate-change-can-teach/
The problem for Maine and RGGI is that Maine must pay the carbon dioxide tax associated with Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island natural gas and oil plants because Maine along with these other states are intertwined in one network aka ISO-NE. Even if Maine was to move out of RGGI, the ratepayers will be exposed to the carbon dioxide tax from other plants in other states of the network.
And because wind and solar and other renewables qualified to sell generation into the network never set the price as they can bid low thanks to subsidies, nevertheless are paid the carbon dioxide tax with natural gas plants (with no subidies) setting the price including the tax. Once the price is set, all generators are alloted the price that is set.
The current cold weather has meant oil is a price setter and the renewables are raking in fistfuls of money charged to ratepayers in retail sales. This is why the Maine State energy policies are obnoxious.