The PA legislature should take heed of these conservative Christian voices and quickly move forward with considering Governor Shapiro's new energy plan, including the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) to the Commonwealth, which updates Pennsylvania’s Tier I renewable energy diversification goal from 8% to 35% by 2035 and has now been introduced as HB 2277 and SB 1190.
In response, Carolyn Heckman, Associate Director of Pennsylvania Policy for EEN Action, released the following statement--
“It’s time to recognize our past and the workers who sacrificed their health and lives to make our Commonwealth the energy leader it is today.
"To stay an energy leader and defend the health of our families, children, and energy workers, it is also time for a clean energy transformation in Pennsylvania.
"That’s why over 33,000 evangelical and pro-life Pennsylvanians are voicing their support for an expanded Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS).
"Solutions like PRESS, which includes an expanded AEPS, hold the promise of a healthier future for our children; long-term, family-sustaining careers; and a growing economy for all by unleashing clean, reliable energy in Pennsylvania.
"As shown by the 33,000 comments delivered yesterday, solutions like PRESS are not only smart but popular, too."
"We thank Governor Shapiro for taking the important step toward a safe and healthy future for all generations through PRESS and also thank Representative Otten and Senator Santasiero for introducing this proposal in the House and Senate as HB 2277 and SB 1190.
"This policy will deliver economic benefits to Pennsylvania ratepayers, low-income communities, and energy workers while cutting harmful pollution that harms the hearts, minds, and lungs of our children.
"We look forward to working with Governor Shapiro and the legislature to make these bills as strong as possible to defend the lives and health of Pennsylvania’s children.
"We now urge the legislature to come together to ensure Pennsylvania remains a leader in the clean energy future.”
Visit the EEN Action website to learn more.
For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Evangelical Environmental Network website. ENN is based in New Freedom, York County.
The mission of ENN is to inspire, equip, educate, and mobilize evangelical Christians to love God and others by rediscovering and reclaiming the Biblical mandate to care for creation and working toward a stable climate and a healthy, pollution-free world.
Resource Links:
-- Gov. Shapiro On Republican Reaction To His Energy Plan: They’ve Done Nothing And Power ‘Plants Have Closed On Their Watch;’ They’re ‘Used To Doing Nothing;’ ‘Doing Nothing Is Not Acceptable’ [PaEN]
-- Senate Republicans Reject Gov. Shapiro’s Offer To Work On Legislation To Make The Electric Grid More Reliable, Diversify Our Energy Sources, Lower Energy Costs For Ratepayers, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions [PaEN]
-- Pennsylvania’s Electric Grid Is Dependent On One Fuel To Generate 59% Of Our Electricity; Market Moving To Renewables + Storage [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Sen. Comitta, Sen. Santarsiero, Rep. Friel-Otten, Rep. Abney Introduce Gov. Shapiro's Clean Energy/Climate Plan Bills [PaEN]
-- EEN Action/Evangelical Environmental Network: Nearly 33,000 Christians Support Amending PA's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard To Promote Clean Energy, Improve Grid Reliability [PaEN]
-- USDA Rural Energy For America Success Story: Franklin County Dairy Farmer Harvesting Benefits Of Solar Energy [PaEN]
-- Penn State Team Awarded US DOE Grant To Develop Extraction & Recovery Technologies For Rare Earth, Other Critical Materials From Coal, Coal Wastes, Acid Mine Drainage [PaEN]
-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bill To Punish Counties That Seek To Protect Their Residents From Impacts Of Natural Gas Thru Lawsuits [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection: Concerns Remain On Grid Reliability With Final EPA Rule Setting Tougher Air Pollution Standards On New Gas, Existing Coal-fired Power Plants [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- City & State PA Guest Essay: Why Gov. Shapiro’s Energy/Climate Plan Is A Boon For PA’s Energy Sector - By Sustainability Business Network
-- TribLive Guest Essay: Keep PA’s Clean Energy Momentum Going With Solar, Wind Energy - By Erika Strassburger, Pittsburgh City Council
-- Inquirer: Environmentalists Battle To Get PECO To Increase Use Of Green Energy; But The Oil Industry Calls It A Job Killer
-- Utility Dive: New PA PUC Policy Sparks Debate Over Who Can Own Energy Storage Assets
-- The Guardian: Vermont Poised To Become First US State To Charge Big Oil For Climate Damage; Modeled On Federal Superfund Cleanup Program
-- Financial Times: Shell Sold Millions Of ‘Phantom’ Carbon Credits
-- AP: More And Faster: Electricity From Clean Sources Reaches 30% Of Global Total
-- Financial Times: The $9 Trillion Question: How To Pay For The Green Energy Transition
[Posted: May 9, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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