House Committees Hold Hearings On Hydrogen Hubs, Appliance Energy Efficiency; Consider Bills Increasing Recycling Fee, Study Solar Energy On Farms

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing November 13 on hydrogen hubs and climate change.

Witnesses expected to present testimony include--

-- Illinois State Senator David Koehler, Assistant Majority Leader

-- Colorado State Rep. Brianna Titone, Majority Caucus Co-Chair, Geologist

-- Rachel Foukhry, Natural Resources Defense Council

-- Sam Bailey, Regional Hubs Manager, Appalachia, Clean Air Task Force

-- Mike Butler, Mid-Atlantic Executive Director, Consumer Energy Alliance

-- Robert Altenburg, Energy Center Director, PennFuture

In May, the Committee held its first hearing on hydrogen hubs and climate change, before Pennsylvania was selected for two hydrogen hubs.  Read more here.

In June, the Committee was scheduled to consider House Bill 1215 (Vitali-D-Delaware) that would have required hydrogen producing companies to sequester a larger portion of carbon emissions to receive a state tax credit under state Act 108, but the Committee passed over the bill.  Read more here.

The hearing will be held in Room G-50 of the Irvis Building starting at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net. Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5075 or by sending email to: mcauser@pahousegop.com.

House Hearing On Appliance Efficiency

The House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing November 14 on House Bill 1615 (O’Mara-D-Delaware) that would set energy and water conservation standards for commercial and residential appliances.

The bill would cover 15 specific appliances from commercial dishwashers, ovens, and fryers to faucets, gas fireplaces, spas, shower heads and toilets.

The hearing will be held in Room G-50 of the Irvis Building starting at 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

Rep. Robert Matzie (D-Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-4444 or sending email to: rmatzie@pahouse.net.  Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-260-6432 or sending email to: jmarshal@pahousegop.com. 

House Committee Meets On Recycling Fee, Farm Solar

The House Local Government Committee is scheduled to hold a voting meeting on House Bill 223 (Isaacson-D-Philadelphia) increasing the recycling fee on municipal waste disposed in the state to $5/ton from $2/ton (sponsor summary).

Also on the agenda is House Resolution 224 (Rabb-D-Philadelphia) directing the Joint State Government commission to do a study and establish an advisory committee to analyze opportunities for solar energy facilities on farms (sponsor summary). 

The meeting will be held in Room 205 of the Ryan Building starting at 10:00 a.m. Click Here to watch live.

Rep. Robert Freeman (D-Lehigh) serves as Majority Chair of the House Local Government Committee and can be contacted at 717-783-2152 or send email to: rfreeman@pahouse.net.  Rep. Lee James (R-Venango) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted at 717-783-8188 or send email to: rljames@pahousegop.com. 

Related Articles - Hydrogen:

-- DOE Awards Natural Gas-Based Hydrogen Hub In Western PA, Renewable/ Nuclear Power-Based Hydrogen Hub In Eastern PA; Reactions  [PaEN]

-- Hearing On Hydrogen Hubs Became ‘Democracy’ vs. ‘Open Mic Night’  [PaEN]

Upcoming Events

-- University Of Pittsburgh Studies Of Shale Gas Development Health Impacts To Be Discussed At Nov. 14 Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board  [PaEN]

-- PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health Nov. 14 Shale Gas & Public Health Conference  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - November 4 to 10 - Eight More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Venting Gas; Improper Plugging, Failed To Restore Well Pads  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - November 11  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 11 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]  

Related Articles This Week:

-- Environmental Health Project: Gov. Shapiro Must Acknowledge Health Risks Of Natural Gas Development And Take Meaningful Action To Protect The Public  [PaEN]  

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA: Gov. Shapiro's Announcement With CNX Does Not Go Far Enough In Protecting Public Health And The Environment From Natural Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Editorial: Is Shapiro's Voluntary Agreement With CNX The Right Move For Gas Well Safety?  'We Do Not Trust Foxes To Guard Henhouses'  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Columbia County Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Compressor Station Air Quality Permit And Will Hold A Hearing Dec. 19 - If One Is Requested  [PaEN]

-- PUC Seeks More Information On Peoples Gas Over-Pressurization Incident In Indiana County That Damaged Hundreds Of Appliances, Caused Distribution Pipeline Leaks  [PaEN]

-- New NERC Winter Reliability Assessment Finds Elevated Risk Of Blackouts In Extreme Weather Conditions; Natural Gas Supplies Still Vulnerable To These Conditions With 'Devastating Consequences'  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Begins Process To Explore Rulemaking Related To Use Of Distributed Energy Resources And 'Virtual' Power Plants  [PaEN] 

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light, Jewish Earth Alliance Host Nov. 15 Online Discussion - Rethinking Our Connection To Fossil Fuels  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Last 3 Hearings On Interim Final Environmental Justice Permit Review Policy  [PaEN]

[Posted: November 11, 2023]  PA Environment Digest