A bill that would ensure Pennsylvanians can make up their own mind about what kinds of fuels they use for energy passed the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday.
State Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Williamsport), S.B. 311’s sponsor, said the bill would keep municipalities from limiting consumer choices when it comes to specific types of fuel sources available to them. The language in the bill is fuel-neutral, officials said and does not targe any one source of energy.
“It’s simply about consumer choice and keeping energy costs low,” Yaw said. “When municipal governments start picking winners and losers, then we have a serious problem. Pennsylvania residents have a myriad of energy options to choose from and we should keep it that way.”
Yaw said the bill was intended to stave off actions like those in Berkely, Calif., the first city in the country to ban natural gas hookups in new construction in an effort to keep buildings and homes from using fossil fuels.
“Many of my constituents still use wood to heat their homes,” Yaw said. “Are we going to stop them next?”
Twenty-six states across the country currently have energy choice legislation. Yaw said his bill is supported by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Manufacturer and Business Association, and the natural gas and electric utilities organization the Energy Association of Pennsylvania.
The legislation will now be considered by the state’s House of Representatives.