House Local Govt. Committee Meets May 25 On Bill To Prohibit Communities From Moving To Clean, Cheaper Energy Sources To Address Climate Change

The House Local Government Committee is scheduled to meet May 25 to consider Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which prohibits counties, local governments and authorities from promoting clean, cheaper energy sources to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions..

This legislation is part of an initiative by the American Gas Association to get states across the country to adopt legislation to prohibit local governments from adopting ordinances that would block the use of natural gas in new homes and commercial construction.  Read more here.

A companion bill-- House Bill 1947 (O’Neal-R-Washington)-- was passed by the House in January.  Read more here.

In March, the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook said the falling costs of renewable energy means “robust” competition with natural gas and said electricity is the fastest growing energy source in buildings.  Read more here.

On May 16, the U.S. EIA reported photovoltaic module shipments jumped from 1.3 million kilowatt hours in February to 2.2 million kilowatt hours in March.  Read more here.

This legislation is meant by the natural gas industry to reduce conversions to electricity, even in the face of record natural gas cost spikes as a result of the Russian Ukraine war.

As Bloomberg and others have reported, “U.S. Natural Gas Is On A Path To ‘Crazy Prices’ With No Relief In Sight.”

The spiking cost of natural gas is also affecting electricity, as the Public Utility Commission warned on May 9 when they announced electricity costs will be rising between 16.1 percent and 44.6 percent starting June 1.  Read more here.

However, electric generation companies are moving quickly to incorporate cheaper renewables in their generation mix, as the U.S. Energy Information Administration has reported.  Read more here.

The meeting will be held in Room 515 of the Irvis Building at the Call of the Chair, which means it could be held at any time after the House convenes on that day. Click Here to watch live online. 

 Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Schuylkill) serves as Majority Chair of the House Local Government Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-9029 or send email to: JKnowles@pahousegop.com. Rep. Robert Freeman (D-Lehigh) serves as Minority Chair and can be contact at 717-783-2152 or send email to: rfreeman@pahouse.net. 

Related Article:

-- At The Request Of The Natural Gas Industry, House Republicans Pass Bill To Stop Communities From Adopting All-Electric Building Codes

[Posted: May 18, 2022]  PA Environment Digest