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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Victoria L. Stanish |
State Rep. Mike Carroll |
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TO: Editor,
Community Express
FROM: State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe
RE: Energy Independence Strategy for Pennsylvania
Energy consumers have been on a wild roller-coaster ride the past few years. Political and weather-related instability in many parts of the world has left us hostage to the mercy of the marketplace. And it doesn’t look like the situation will get any better in the years ahead. Mexico, which is the second-largest oil supplier to the United States, recently announced that it won’t be able to export oil to the U.S. within seven years. It will be important for scientists and researchers to partner with government and private companies to find viable solutions for producing alternative fuels that are clean, efficient and reasonably priced.
The state legislature has convened a special session to discuss the Energy Independence Strategy, a package of bills designed to reduce Pennsylvania’s dependence on foreign oil and make the state a leader in the production and use of alternative energy.
Earlier this summer, we accomplished a part of that goal when we passed, as part of the 2007-08 state 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.
The core bills of the Energy Independence Strategy would help the state move toward the production of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biofuels. It would provide consumers with incentives for trading older, inefficient appliances for new energy-efficient models. Electric companies would be required to provide customers with smart meters to help them use electricity more efficiently and reduce their energy costs.
The plan also allows large energy consumers to enter long-term contracts to ensure stable, less expensive energy costs from electricity providers. This is vital because Pennsylvania’s rate caps on electricity will end throughout the state by 2010. If the end of rate caps in other states is any indication of what will happen here, consumers will face substantially higher electric bills. The strategies in the EIS would minimize the impact of these caps being lifted.
In addition, the EIS package would boost the state’s alternative energy industry, making our state a national leader and creating thousands of jobs.
There are many initiatives in the Energy Independence Strategy that are worthy of consideration, but at this time I’m chiefly concerned with finding a solution to alleviate the spikes in energy prices that will occur when the rate caps expire in 2010. We need to look at every possible solution to help customers. This should be a priority as the legislature moves forward with the proposals currently on the table.
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