Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro signed into law a bill to exit a regional market meant to cut
greenhouse gas emissions, just over three years after the state joined the initiative to flight climate change.
Both chambers of the state legislature voted to end the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas
Initiative as part of the state’s budget, which cut funding for the progr
am. The bill unwinds a 2019 decision by Pennsylvania’s former governor to join the cap-and-trade program.
The move comes as Shapiro pushes to transform Pennsylvania into a major hub for artificial intelligence. The AI boom is propelling the biggest buildout of natu
ral gas-fired power plants in years, and Pennsylvania has long been a top producer of the fossil fuel. Consum
er Energy Alliance, which represents businesses and fossil fuel generators, applauded the move, saying it will help reduce escalating utility bills, while climate gro
up Evergreen Action called RGGI the state’s strongest tool for lowering energy costs.
While the exit is seen by some as a capitulation to Republicans and the fossil fuel industry, Shapiro said it removes a key barrier.
“For years the Republicans who’ve led the Senate have used RGGI as an excuse to stall substantive conversations about energy production; today that excuse
is gone,” Shapiro said during a press conference minutes before signing the budget. “I am looking forward to aggressivel
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y pushing for policies that create more jobs in the energy sector, bring more clean energy onto our grid and reduce the cost of energy for all Pennsylvanians.”
With a 150-year operating history, TIA is a retail insurance agency offering property/casualty products a
nd employee benefits. Based in Ithaca, New York, TIA has more than 20 locations in western and central New York and in Pennsylvania.
TIA is ranked #79 among Insurance Journal’s Top 100 Independent Insurance Agencies for 2025. It reported total 20
24 property/casualty revenues of more than $31.2 million and other revenue of $8.5 million.
All current leadership and direct employees of TIA have joined Gallagher, according to the announcement.
“It was in the long-term interests of the TIA employees and customers to find a partner that best position
ed them for continued success well into the future. We are fully c
onfident Gallagher is the right partner for all stakeholders. We wish all the best to the TIA team, and I extend
many thanks to them for their contributions to our organization,” said Steph
en S. Romaine, president and CEO, Tompkins Financial Corp.