She made the comments at a joint hearing of the Senate Community Development and Environmental Committees on the impacts to the economy and consumers of "failing to invest in Pennsylvania's natural gas infrastructure" and the cancellation of the PennEast natural gas pipeline. [Read more here]
Sen. Comitta said this in her closing remarks--
"I really appreciated the opportunity to hear all of the viewpoints today about our natural gas infrastructure and jobs.
"As I mentioned at the beginning of this hearing, it's so important, really crucial that we bring everyone to the table and that we hear what everyone has to say regarding both energy infrastructure, environmental protection and jobs. This is of course the only way we're going to make progress on all of these issues.
"We've all agreed that environmental health does not need to come at the cost of economic health, and vice versa.
"Several environmental organizations who were not invited to participate today have submitted testimony, and in order to benefit from these diverse viewpoints, I hope you will take a moment and read and review that testimony from the Clean Air Council, Penn Future and PennEnvironment.
"If we're going to take a whole, complete and honest picture of our energy policies, perhaps we should schedule a hearing on the Commonwealth's failures and opportunities to invest in our clean energy infrastructure.
"On the heels of the startling and recent Greenpeace report that exposed the lies perpetuated for decades by the world's largest fossil fuel companies and their central role in the climate crisis, also on the heels of Harvard and hundreds of other colleges and universities and global investment companies divesting billions of dollars in investments in fossil fuel companies, and on the heels of Pope Francis and a global interfaith coalition calling for governments and major investors to halt loans and investments in fossil fuel companies who are not showing a clear switch to clean energy production by 2023.
"On the heels of all these major economic and moral global shifts, let's get together soon and discuss how we can understand and eventually embrace these changes so we can make Pennsylvania a leader in the world's clean energy future, protecting family sustaining jobs, public health, and environmental health.
"At the [Senate Environmental] committee hearing last week, PJM said, "Pennsylvania's energy is key to the PJM state's transition to a clean energy future." Pennsylvania is a net energy exporter. PJM reminded us that we have 140 percent of the energy we need to power Pennsylvania.
"That being said, it would be very helpful to have a discussion about the role of Pennsylvania's natural gas industry and the PJM region's transition to clean energy, a transition that is already happening.
"The production of energy is shifting rapidly toward clean energy not because of RGGI [Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative] or the radical environmental left.
“It's happening because of economic drivers and the moral climate crisis we face.
"I believe Pennsylvania's energy and jobs future is bright, and I look forward to continuing our conversation to that end. Again, thank you, Mr. Chairman and all my colleagues and the panelists."
Visit the Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee webpage for copies of written testimony and a video of the hearing [when available].
Sen. John Yudichak (I-Luzerne) serves as Majority Chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee and can be contacted at 717-787-7105 or send email to: John@pasen.gov. Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-Delaware) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted at 717-787-5544 or send email to: cappelletti@pasenate.com.
Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov. Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5709 or sending email to: senatorcomitta@pasenate.com.
NewsClip:
-- AP: Attorney General, Prosecutors Abruptly Halt Natural Gas Pipeline Probe Announcement
Related Articles This Week:
-- AG Shapiro: Charges Mariner East Pipeline With 48 Counts Of Environmental Crimes In 11 Counties
-- Sen. Comitta: Calls For Halt To Mariner East Pipeline Construction In Light Of Criminal Charges By Attorney General
-- PA Consumer Advocate: Heating With Natural Gas Will Cost Residential Consumers About 20% More This Winter; No Impact On PA Consumers Of PennEast Pipeline Cancellation
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-- Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: Told A Federal Court Sunoco Cannot Hide Risk Assessment Data For Its Mariner East 2 Pipeline
-- DEP: Potential For Environmental Impacts From Spills Or Leaks Of Radioactive Oil & Gas Waste Materials Is Real; Health Dept. Not Aware Of All Chemicals In Oil & Gas Wastewater Making Risk Assessment Difficult
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