Kessler introduces energy independence bills

Legislation would provide 75-cent-per-gallon biodiesel subsidy,

require fuel-efficient clean-air taxis

Gasoline and heating oil prices keep going up. We need to free ourselves from dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Shifting to cleaner alternative energy would be a major step forward in addressing these problems.

I recently introduced two bills in the Special Session on Energy that the General Assembly is holding to address these problems. One of my bills would provide a 75-cent-per-gallon production incentive for in-state producers of biodiesel and the other bill would require all taxis in Pennsylvania to be hybrid electric vehicles by 2015.

Both of these bills would be major steps forward on addressing the energy problems we face, and each also would offer a significant added benefit.

Turbocharging Pa.’s alternative-energy industry

The biodiesel credit would turbocharge Pennsylvania’s alternative-energy industry and provide a bigger market for Pennsylvania farmers’ crops. Biodiesel also is more productive than ethanol because it provides a by-product that goes back to the farmers – feed for farm animals.

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau supports this bill.

More than 20 states provide a significant production incentive for in-state producers of biodiesel. That means this fuel is currently produced in other states and sold here at a price lower than Pennsylvania producers can offer.

This bill would help to level the playing field and help many Pennsylvania farmers, especially younger farmers, to keep farming with a better, more stable source of income. All of this would help efforts to preserve farmland before it’s lost forever to development in Berks County and across the state. And since biodiesel can be produced from animal fats and possibly even algae, Pennsylvania’s potential sources would not be limited to the amount of soybeans we produce.

My bill is similar to a bill introduced by Sens. John Gordner, R-Columbia, and John Pippy, R-Allegheny, except that my bill provides for a higher funding cap. My bill would provide the credit for three years. I have been in talks with senators to reach agreement on this important initiative.

The six companies already producing biodiesel in Pennsylvania have the capacity to produce 15 million gallons per year, but they are currently only producing about 700,000 gallons because of the cheaper fuel imported from other states that have a credit.