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GUEST COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Bill Thomas |
State Rep. Eugene
DePasquale D-York |
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Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007
The energy it takes to secure Pennsylvania’s future
By state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York
Energy independence is not a new concept. It has been a theme in American public policy for almost 35 years, ever since the oil embargo of 1973. When he was president, Jimmy Carter said: “We simply must balance our demand for energy with our rapidly shrinking resources. By acting now we can control our future instead of letting the future control us.”
Yet here we are – three decades later – still fighting to convince many policymakers that creating a strategic plan on energy is critical to the future of our state’s economy, environment and national security.
Over the last nine months, I have been working with Gov. Rendell to institute a clear, concise and effective energy strategy that would create jobs, save consumers money and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It would push Pennsylvania toward the forefront of clean and alternative energy production and finally institute policies that would allow Pennsylvania to control its own energy future.
Earlier this summer, we accomplished a part of that goal when we passed, as part of the budget package, legislation that encourages the use of alternative and renewable forms of energy such as solar power. The law requires energy producers to invest in cleaner forms of energy and rewards customers who produce a portion of their own electric power and return it to the grid.
This month, members of the General Assembly will once again have the opportunity to drive Pennsylvania toward energy independence. I will again be advocating for the passage of a bill that I introduced that would expand the Pennsylvania Economic Development Authority to encourage energy independence by offering tax credits, grants and loans, and other incentives to alternative energy manufacturers and energy-efficient companies. In addition, the bill would provide rebates and incentives to consumers for replacing inefficient household appliances and using solar power.
Through these incentives, we would entice corporations to invest in new sources of energy right here in our own state – sources that are cleaner and renewable and not subject to foreign influence. It would give us the chance to free ourselves from the grip of Middle East oil and provide an economic development opportunity, all while protecting our environment.
The bill was passed by the House in June but was not addressed by the Senate as part of the budget package.
In addition to the state’s proposed Energy Independence Strategy, I will be introducing and advocating for several other measures related to energy efficiency. Specifically, I will introduce a package of bills that would:
Ø Exclude certain solar energy system components and Energy Star products from the state sales tax.
Ø Provide grants for certain homebuyers to offset closing costs or for down payment assistance for homes that meet certain energy efficiency or alternative energy system criteria.
Ø Encourage residents and small business owners to transition to alternative energy by offering tax credits to any taxpayer who uses certain alternative energy sources for at least 50 percent of their property’s energy needs.
The measures listed above, along with the remaining pieces of the state’s Energy Independence Strategy, are vital to the future of Pennsylvania. The time to act on these groundbreaking and innovative proposals is now.
If we do, we can finally put into action the words of President Carter: “By acting now we can control our future instead of letting the future control us.”
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