During a partisan hearing on proposed energy policies, Republicans lashed out at proposed Democratic energy policies.
The hearing, “Stopping Economic Disaster: The Democrats and their Green New Deal,” Pennsylvania Rep. Joshua Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), the chair of the House Republican Policy Committee, labeled the policies an “attempt to torpedo the state’s energy industry.”
“The Democrats’ energy agenda is downright dangerous,” Kail said. “If these policies are allowed to advance and become law, all Pennsylvanians will suffer with higher electric bills, lost jobs, threats to national security and harm to the environment. These policies take us in the WRONG direction.”
Specifically, the hearing focused on House Bill 170 which would increase setback for unconventional wells. Republicans said the proposed setbacks would in effect create a moratorium on new well development.
“This is another not-so-veiled attempt to shut down our state’s energy industry to the detriment of every person,” Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), chairman of the ERE Committee, said of the bill. “We have abundant natural resources, a superior workforce and enhanced technology to continue growing our energy industry. We absolutely must reject destructive and burdensome regulations that would irresponsibly and unnecessarily halt future growth and opportunity.”
Kail said the bill was part of a series of Democrat energy policy bills including ones that would increase conventional well bonding; create alternative energy portfolio standards; increase “environmental justice” in permitting; create zero-emission standards for space and water heaters; create a new greenhouse gas tax on manufacturers and transition to electric school buses.
Kail also said the state loses billions of dollars in new investment opportunities as a result of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s continued implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Jim Welty, vice president of government affairs for the Marcellus Shale Coalition, testified at the hearing that the of natural gas has created environmental benefits, and that stabilizing the electric grid was important to the state as well as to national security.
Also testifying was Michael Ford, secretary-treasurer of the PA Building and Construction Trades Council, who said the natural gas industry has been valuable in providing jobs to the building and construction trades. He said it was unlikely that those workers could find comparable jobs in the state if the natural gas industry was shut down.
And David Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, said natural gas plays a role in every aspect of manufacturing, and that alternative energy technologies cannot be made or maintained without the use of natural gas.
Kail said using fossil fuels should not be a partisan issue.
“This should not be a partisan issue. Natural gas and other fossil fuels touch every aspect of our lives every single day,” Kail said. “Today’s hearing makes it clear once again that we must work to enact policies that unleash the potential of our energy industry for the sake of the Commonwealth and the nation.”