State Sen. John Yudichak (I-Carbon/Luzerne/Monroe counties) recently urged Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin to promote the use of energy tax credits to help boost the economy.
Last year, the General Assembly approved the Local Resource Manufacturing Tax Credit.
At a recent Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing, Yudichak said, “The initiative has the potential to attract petrochemical manufacturers and create 5,000 new jobs in northeastern Pennsylvania, by taking advantage of an abundant and affordable supply of natural gas.”
Yudichak stated that companies thinking of relocating to Pennsylvania regularly meet with the DCED but were not aware of the tax credits, a claim refuted by Davin.
Davin testified that this is DCED’s sixth year meeting regularly with site selectors and the tax credits are a priority.
Yudichak also expressed his concerns to Davin about a plan to divert water from the Delaware River Basin Commission to New York, a move he feels will result in thousands of lost jobs and end the tourism industry in the Lehigh Valley.
The Facility Closure Transition Program resulted in the loss of more than 800 union jobs in Luzerne County and $100 million in annual economic impact.
Yudichak is Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee chairman.