Gov. Tom Wolf’s recent decision to have Pennsylvania join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has drawn less than positive reactions from local lawmakers.

The governor’s executive order would instruct the state Department of Environmental Protection to collaborate with a number of surrounding states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, said many unanswered questions surround the state’s joining the RGGI, among them costs, impact to industry and the overall effect on the petrochemical cracker plant in Beaver County.

“I support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it is worth noting that, since RGGI began trading allowances in 2009, the current nine RGGI states have reduced carbon emissions by 17%, while Pennsylvania has reduced carbon emissions by 28%. This was accomplished all without government mandate and at great savings to consumers,” he said.

RGGI would require participating states to implement the plan through a regional cap-and-trade program involving CO2 emitting electric power plants. Power plants would purchase a credit or allowance for each ton of CO2 they emit. The purchases are made at quarterly auctions conducted by RGGI.

State Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township, said while he was mostly unfamiliar with the initiative, he could not support something that hampers the natural gas industry.

“It’s a clean energy,” he said. “Natural gas industries have done good work with the environment.”

State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, said many lawmakers weren’t keen on RGGI when the governor first proposed it.

“We will see where it goes,” he said. “It’s probably not applicable to Pennsylvania.”

Yaw, who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said the state has little in common with New York and New England states which are part of the initiative along with Delaware and Maryland.

“Maybe we have more of an interest with Ohio and West Virginia, especially when it comes to coal and natural gas,” he said. “How can we have a common interest with New York and the New England region when they prohibit the importation of our gas? They thumb their nose at Pennsylvania gas and embrace and purchase gas from Russia.”

Yaw said the state Legislature should have a say in the matter.

“It cannot be a unilateral decision,” he added.