Gov. Tom Wolf signed an executive order that starts Pennsylvania on a path toward its biggest step yet in the battle to mitigate climate change, but it remains to be seen what kind of a “Green New Deal” will result.

Wolf signed the order Thursday directing his Department of Environmental Protection to start work on a set of regulations that would permit Pennsylvania to participate in the nine-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

The program, commonly known as RGGI, requires power plants in participating states to acquire credits for each ton of carbon dioxide they emit - essentially a pollution tax. Carbon dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, is one of the most pervasive of the greenhouse gasses that are contributing to what scientists believe is a period of accelerated, man-made climate change.

The number of credits are reduced over time, forcing the energy markets to make a choice between steadily higher costs or diverting to cleaner power sources.

Wolf noted Thursday that the process ahead will take a year or longer, and he said he wants to encourage a big-table discussion with all affected stakeholders to try to make sure that Pennsylvania’s entry into RGGI is executed without damaging the state’s growing energy economy.

Pennsylvania, with is vast natural gas reserves and coal fields, would be the first state in RGGI that is a major fossil fuel energy producer.

“We know that we can not complete this process in a vacuum,” Wolf said. "We know that the conversation that we’ve begun over the past year needs to continue if we are going to craft regulations that fit Pennsylvania’s unique energy mix.

“We need to make sure that the transition to a cleaner energy mix does not leave workers and communities behind. And it will take buy-in from the Legislature... But we are committing today - I am committing today - to the steps necessary to move forward.”

It didn’t take long for the complexity of the debates ahead to show themselves.

Leaders of the Republican House majority stopped short of rejecting RGGI in a joint statement Thursday. But they also criticized what they called Wolf’s “go-it-alone" approach, and vowed to use their powers to ensure that their constituents voices are heard.

House Republicans - as much as any caucus in the state legislature - have been a staunch ally of the state’s burgeoning natural gas interests.

“We believe the executive branch cannot bind the state into multi-state agreements without the approval of the General Assembly, and we plan to execute the fullest extent of our legislative power on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania,” the House GOP leaders said in a joint statement.

Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Lycoming County and the chairman of the Senate’s Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, agreed, and posed his own questions about whether RGGI is even the right fit for Pennsylvania.

When it comes to energy policy, Yaw said Thursday, "We have very little in common with New York, New Jersey, and the New England states... 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.

"For a step of this magnitude, which affects consumers, business, industry and public policy the legislature, who represents the citizens of this state, must be involved in the dialogue on joining RGGI. It cannot be a unilateral decision,” Yaw said.

Wolf acknowledged the work ahead.

“This is the beginning of this," the governor stressed, "and I’m looking forward to a robust conversation with the General Assembly, with environmental advocates, with Pennsylvanians all across the state to figure out how we do this right.”

Wolf earned instant praise for getting the ball rolling from leading environmental advocates, some of whom have criticized Wolf for being too hesitant on the climate change front in the past.

“After the climate strikes and U.N. Climate Summit in recent weeks, many Pennsylvanians wondered what could be done right here in our state," said David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center.

"Gov. Wolf is providing a bold answer. Given a choice between living in the past with dirty fuels or being on the right side of history, Pennsylvania’s leaders are showing they’re ready to do what’s right and protect our communities and future generations across the state.”

“Governor Wolf is putting Pennsylvanians on the path to a cleaner, more prosperous future,” said Mark Szybist, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Joining this regional effort would not only curb climate pollution, it would also jump start the state’s transition to a clean energy economy. This is a win for strong climate action.”

Leaders of the state’s largest business organization, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said they appreciated Wolf’s call for a big-table approach.

“We encourage legislative input and an analysis of costs to ratepayers and the industry in order to ensure that the Commonwealth’s approach to greenhouse gas regulations is balanced... without stifling potential economic growth,” said Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr.

"Climate change is real and so is the need to have the business community at the table to discuss solutions and consider the tradeoffs.”