On Thursday, Pennsylvania state Rep. Mike Cabell (R-Luzerne) and members of the House Republican Policy Committee, convened the first in a series of hearing on low-cost and reliable energy for consumers.
The hearing, “Balancing Your Budget and Thermostat: Consumer Focused Energy Policy,” heard from consumer energy advocates, energy industry leaders and elected officials. Republicans focused on the natural gas and oil industry, as well as the nearly 500,000 jobs its creates in the state and the $78.6 billion in contributes to the state economy. Pennsylvania is the second-largest net supplier of energy to other states, second only to Texas.
Legislators heard from Michael Butler, Consumer Energy Alliance mid-Atlantic executive director; Jack Monahon, Caithness Energy general manager of operations; and Dr. Frank Polidora, Butler Township supervisor.
“The world is a better place with Pennsylvania energy,” House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Rep. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) said. “Let this be a warning: the world will not be a better place with the Democrats’ energy policies as they will harm consumers, manufacturers, national security and the environment. That’s the irony of their ‘green’ policies—they present no environmental benefit, yet the Democrats cloak themselves in green righteousness.”
Legislators said the policies proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro would place unnecessary burdens on the energy sector, which, consequently, would have negative impacts on consumers.