House GOP to Wolf: PA has energy role on world stage

As the nation’s second-largest natural gas producer, Pennsylvania is in a unique position to aid America’s European allies during the current Ukraine crisis and beyond, Pennsylvania House Republicans told Gov. Tom Wolf (D) on Thursday.

In pointing out that a variety of Democratic energy policies have failed at the state and federal levels, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), and House Majority Secretary Martina White (R-Philadelphia) pointed out that the state has abundant resources to both meet and expand its own domestic utilization, while also fueling U.S. allies.

Such allies, wrote the GOP lawmakers in a Feb. 17 letter sent to Wolf, have been subject to the political, military and economic whims of Russia for far too long. 

“We can, however, have a positive and profound impact on the world stage if we exercised leadership and willpower to get it done,” wrote the members. “By being proactive, we could both strengthen our international allegiances as well as our own national security.” 

The House GOP leaders noted that the current Russian risk to American allies abroad demands that Pennsylvania reclaim its role as a leader in providing American energy independence.

Toward that goal, the members asked Wolf to sit down with members of the General Assembly majority to discuss how to put into action several steps that would maximize Pennsylvania’s potential to be a natural gas leader.

First, the lawmakers seek collaboration with the energy industry and skilled trades unions to identify specific projects that would enhance export opportunities from the Commonwealth.

They also want to streamline and expedite the permitting process for production and critical infrastructure, including pipelines, storage, and processing and refining facilities, to both enhance the nation’s domestic energy development and consumption, as well as provide for the expansion of the state’s port facilities and manufacturing capabilities, according to the letter.

Additionally, State Reps. Cutler, Benninghoff, and White asked Wolf to work closely with the state’s Office of International Business Development staff and their contacts with America’s European allies to match supply opportunities in Pennsylvania with demand in Europe.

Lastly, the lawmakers want to work with federal elected officials and foreign diplomats to strategize on how to best utilize Pennsylvania’s energy prowess to meet both the energy needs of the nation’s allies and diffuse rising tensions, they wrote.

“It is past time the Commonwealth stop apologizing for its abundant energy resources and rather, start marshaling them as strategic assets that will strengthen our national security and standing on the international stage,” wrote the lawmakers.