Senate Committee Meets Oct. 25 On Bills Rebranding Fossil Fuels As ‘Low Emission,’ Eliminating Incentives For EVs; EHB Nominee Sarah Clark; Info Meeting On SB 1225

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet October 25 on legislation to rebrand fossil fuels as “low emission” vehicle fuels and end state incentives for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The Committee will also consider the Governor’s nomination of Sarah Clark to the Environmental Hearing Board.

The bills include--

-- Rebranding Fossil Fuels:  Senate Bill 1338 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) and Senate Bill 1339 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which try to rebrand fossil fuels like natural gas, propane into “low emission transportation fuels” and eliminate rebates and incentives for hybrid and electric vehicles.  Read more here.

-- Well Plugging Bill, Again: House Bill 2528 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) that would mandate DEP award conventional oil and gas well plugging contracts to Pennsylvania contractors-- with no regard for cost to taxpayers-- is on the Committee agenda again even though it was reported out of Committee October 18.  Read more here. It will be amended to again deal with conventional oil and gas well bonding from House Bill 2644 that fails to hold drillers accountable for well plugging.  Read more here.

Info Meeting

Immediately after the Committee business meeting, an information meeting will be held on Senate Bill 1125 (Pittman-R-Indiana) creating a Legionnaires’ Disease Drinking Water Risk Management Program.

Click Here for information meeting agenda.

The Committee meeting will be held in Room 8E-B East Wing starting at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

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.

[Posted: October 24, 2022]  PA Environment Digest