Senator Gene Yaw called on May 21 for PJM Interconnection to reform its regional capacity market so that states with aggressive climate policies bear the costs of those decisions, rather than shifting them onto Pennsylvania consumers.
Yaw said the issue is important because he believes Pennsylvania should not have to subsidize policy choices made by neighboring states that could undermine grid reliability. “As a state that has responsibly maintained dispatchable generation and natural gas infrastructure, Pennsylvania should not be forced to subsidize the policy decisions of neighboring states that are actively undermining grid reliability,” Yaw said. “Families, manufacturers and employers deserve a market structure that rewards responsible energy policy rather than penalizing it.”
Yaw referenced PJM’s recent white paper, “Powering Reliability Through Market Design,” which he said recognizes increasing risks to electric grid reliability due to factors such as growing data-center demand, retiring power plants, and rising construction costs. He specifically criticized policies in Virginia and Maryland, arguing their renewable energy mandates and participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), along with rapid growth in data centers, put pressure on the electric grid while spreading higher costs across all PJM member states.
Yaw also opposed a flat price cap extension across PJM supported by Governor Josh Shapiro. He instead suggested a hybrid approach: maintaining a base price cap but adding targeted surcharges where shortages are caused by state policy decisions or high electricity demand growth. According to Yaw, this would make states responsible for driving shortages while recognizing contributions from states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio in supporting reliable power generation.
He further encouraged Attorney General Dave Sunday and Pennsylvania’s Office of Consumer Advocate to become more involved in proceedings at PJM and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Greater involvement would help ensure Pennsylvanians are protected from rising costs tied to other states’ energy policies.
Yaw has served as chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee while also acting as vice chairman of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee; he represents areas including Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union counties; he has contributed community service through coaching youth sports; received recognition as Lycoming County Solicitor of the Year in 2004; provided counsel for over two decades at Pennsylvania College of Technology; chaired its board since 2013—all according to his official website.
