Senate Committee Meets June 7 On Bill To Prohibit Communities From Moving To Clean, Cheaper Energy Sources To Address Climate Change

The Senate Local Government Committee is scheduled to meet on June 7 to consider House Bill 1947 (O’Neal-R- Washington) prohibits counties, local governments and authorities from promoting clean, cheaper energy sources to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.

On May 25, Republicans on the House Local Government Committee reported out a companion bill-- Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R- Lycoming)-- by a party-line vote which is now Tabled in the House

Background

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.

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 Committee meeting will be held in Room 8E-A East Wing starting at  9:30 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.  

Sen. Cris Dush (R-Clearfield) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7084 or send email to his chief of staff: jfoust@pasen.gov. Sen. Timothy Kearney (D-Chester) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-1350 or send email to: tim.kearney@pasenate.com. 

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-- DEP Advises 18 Municipalities Where Road Dumping Of Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling Wastewater Is Occurring The Practice Is Illegal And Considered Waste Disposal  

[Posted: June 3, 2022]  PA Environment Digest