Friday, August 2, 2024

House Committee Held 2nd Hearing On Governor’s Energy Plan To Diversify Energy Generation, Improve Grid Reliability, Lower Consumer Energy Costs

On July 29, the
House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held its second hearing on House Bill 2277 (Otten-D-Chester), the PA Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) is the Governor’s Energy Plan that would diversify energy generation, improve grid reliability, lower consumer costs by avoiding energy price spikes and create energy-related jobs.

The agenda of witnesses included. [click on name for testimony]--

-- Leah Meredith, Mid-Atlantic Region, Solar Energy Industries Assn.

-- Evan Vaughan, Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition

-- John Koteck, Nuclear Energy Institute

-- Julia Kortrey, Evergreen Action - Fact Sheet

-- Nick Bibby, Advance Energy United

-- Rod Williamson - Industrial Energy Consumers Of PA

-- Devi Ramkissoon, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia

Additional written testimony--

-- Sharon Pillar, Pennsylvania Solar Center

-- Rachel Goodgal, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance

Click Here for a video of the hearing.

Two-Part PA Energy/Climate Plan

The PA Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) introduced in House Bill 2277 (Otten-D-Chester) and Senate Bill 1190 (Santarsiero-D-Bucks) is one part of a two-part PA Energy/Climate Plan announced by Gov. Shapiro in March with labor, business and environmental groups.  Read more here.

The second part-- the PA Climate Emission Reduction Program (PACER)-- was introduced in House Bill 2275 (Abney-D-Allegheny) and Senate Bill 1191 (Comitta-D-Chester)

PRESS continues all of the successful elements of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) while making it more inclusive—adding nuclear power, next generation technologies like fusion, and clean forms of natural gas for the first time.

This revitalized energy standard will deliver outsized economic value, improve the reliability of our electricity grid, and position Pennsylvania as a leader in the energy arena for the next twenty years.

PRESS raises the target for the cleanest and renewable energy projects in Tier I to 35% by 2035; it raises the target for Tier II to 10%; and it creates a new Tier III that includes important alternative sources or of power like co-blended or low emission natural gas and other step-stone resources with a 5% target by 2035.

In addition, PRESS ensures the continuity of our existing clean energy nuclear fleet by creating a mechanism for those facilities to receive support in the event they are threatened with closure.

Under PACER, the Department of Environmental Protection will calculate a Pennsylvania-specific cap on carbon emissions and hold our own independent PACER credit auctions. 

The proceeds will be invested as follows--

-- 70 percent returned directly to electricity consumers, including those in rural areas, as an across-the-board, on-bill rebate by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). This reflects the proceeds expected to come from Pennsylvania electricity customers.

-- 30 percent to support energy efficiency projects that reduce air pollution in Pennsylvania, invest in new job-creating clean energy projects, and support low-income energy consumers with their energy bills through a year-round LIHEAP program. Of that project funding, 40 percent will be dedicated to directly benefit Environmental Justice communities.

Click Here for a more detailed summary of the Governor’s Energy/Climate Plans.

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.

(Photo: Pittsburgh-based EOS Energy storage systems.)

Resource Link:

-- House Committee Told Governor’s Energy Plan Diversifies Energy Generation, Avoids One-Fuel Dependence, Improves Grid Reliability, Lowers Consumer Costs, Generates Jobs; Or Upends Competitive Markets And Is A ‘Death Wish’ For Our Economy  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 27 to August 2 - 120 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; 3rd Pipeline Construction Spill; 1,260 Gallon Conventional Oil Spill  [PaEN]  

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 3 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 66 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 3 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Issues Violations To D & B Gas Prod LLC For Abandoning, Not Plugging 110 Conventional Gas, Coalbed Methane Wells In Indiana County; Total Abandonment NOVs 687 In 2024  [PaEN]  

-- PA US Sen. Casey Cosponsors Bill To Find, Clean Up Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells, Improve Detection, Plugging Tech  [PaEN]

-- Eureka Resources Request To Terminate Its Water Quality Permit For A Proposed Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Facility In Dimock, Susquehanna County Approved By DEP  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Seeks To Accelerate Removal, Replacement Of Older Plastic Pipe In Natural Gas Distribution Systems  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Electricity Auction Price 9 Times Higher Than Previous Auction-- $269.92/MW-Day For 2025/26 Delivery Compared To $28.92/MW-Day In 2024-25; Extreme Weather Risk Big Factor    [PaEN]

-- Natural Resources Defense Council: The Cost Of Slow-Walking Clean Energy Can Be Seen In Latest PJM Electricity Prices  [PaEN]

-- PennFuture: Dramatic PJM Electricity Price Increases Due To Forced Outages Of Gas Power Plants; Huge Backlog Of New Generation Projects; Demand Growth Driven By Data Centers, Cryptocurrency Mining  [PaEN] 

-- Kleinman Center For Energy Policy: The High Price Of Failing To Transition To Clean Energy In PJM Footprint; Next PJM Auction Is In December - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center  [PaEN] 

-- House Committee Held 2nd Hearing On Governor’s Energy Plan To Diversify Energy Generation, Improve Grid Reliability, Lower Consumer Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- US Dept. Of Energy Awards Western PA/WV/OH ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub $30 Million  [PaEN] 

-- USDA Announces $163 Million In Rural Energy For America Funding, Including 4 Projects in Pennsylvania  [PaEN] 

-- PA Solar Center, Philadelphia Solar Energy Assn., Partners Host Aug. 14 Webinar To Get Eligible Schools Ready To Apply For The New PA Solar For Schools Grants  [PaEN]

-- US Dept. Of Energy Accepting Applications For Grants To Expand Innovative Weatherization Assistance Programs

-- DEP Awards $15+ Million In PA Electric Grid Resilience Grants To Prevent, Shorten Power Outages In Rural Electric Systems; Fall Grant Round Planned  [PaEN]

-- DEP Awards $2.3 Million To Schools, Businesses, Local Governments Switching To Zero- Or Low-Emission Vehicles; Now Accepting Applications  [PaEN] 

-- Appalachian Voices Urges Congress To Reject Proposed Changes To Federal Energy Permitting That Reduces Opportunities For Communities To Challenge Projects; US Senate Committee Considers Bill July 31  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Utility Dive: PJM Capacity Auction To Lead To Double-Digit Rate Hikes For Exelon Utilities: CFO  [PECO]

-- Utility Dive: PJM Capacity Auction To Lead To Double-Digit Rate Hikes For Exelon Utilities: CFO  [PECO]

-- Utility Dive: FirstEnergy Seeks Alternatives To PJM Capacity Market’s Dramatically Higher Prices To Bolster Power Supply

-- Bloomberg: Almost 20% Of Americans Face Prospect Of Higher Energy Bills

-- Meadville Tribune: National Fuel Natural Gas Rates Rising More Than 11% Aug. 1

-- AP: PUC Files Complaints Against Peoples Gas In Fatal 2021 Natural Gas Explosion In Tyrone, Blair County 

-- WESA/WPSU: PUC Ask People’s Gas To Pay $800,000 After Deadly 2021 Natural Gas Explosion In Tyrone

-- Altoona Mirror: Peoples’ Gas Secrecy Questioned In 2021 Natural Gas Explosion In Tyrone

-- The Energy Age Blog: Acrylonitrile: From Fracking To Train Wrecks  

-- The Intelligencer - Wheeling: $25,000 Bond Keeps PA Oil & Gas Waste Company CEO Out Of Jail For Now Related To Martins Ferry, OH Waste Facility 

-- The Energy Age Blog: Delaware County Employees Retirement System, Other Plaintiffs Secure $40 Million Recovery In Cabot Oil & Gas [Now Coterra Energy] Securities Fraud Lawsuit 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: EQT Natural Gas’ Toby Rice On Presidential Politics: ‘Time To Hold Leaders Accountable’ [EQT, PA Shale Gas Says We Have A ‘Duty’ To Sell More Gas To China Our Economic, Military Competitor]

-- Reuters: Coterra Energy Misses Profit Estimates On Weak Natural Gas Prices

-- Environmental Defense Fund: New Data Show US Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Over 4 Times Higher Than EPA Estimates; 8 Times Greater Than Industry Target

-- Reuters: Federal Appeals Court Throws Out FERC Approval Of PA/NJ Transcontinental Regional Energy Access Expansion Pipeline Project Saying The Agency Did Not Properly Address Objections

-- Marcellus Drilling News/Times West Virginian: Who’s To Blame For Dirty Natural Gas That Ruined West Virginia University’s Boilers?

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell CEO Praises Progress Of Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County

-- US Senate Committee Clears Manchin-Barrasso Bill To Change Federal Energy Facility Permitting Process

-- E&E News: What’s Next For US Senate Energy Facility Permitting Bill?  

-- Washington Examiner: Major Bipartisan Federal Permitting Overhaul Bill Clears Senate Committee

-- The Guardian: US Energy Permitting ‘Reform’ Bill A ‘Wishlist For The Fossil Industry,’ Say Environmental Groups

-- Earthworks Blog: Proposed Federal Energy Permitting Reform Act - Bill Prioritizing Polluters Over Communities

[Posted: August 2, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

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