|
COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Joseph Brennan |
  
|
It's time to get serious about energy
By state Rep. Joe Brennan
The era of cheap oil is over and we need to start thinking about how to prepare for the inevitable economic and social consequences. I don’t believe we can produce ourselves out of this crisis because it would take years to bring any new oil fields online, and even then we would still be at the mercy of the world oil markets.
Already, the state's current energy investment programs have created more than 2,500 jobs. But funding has been limited and the state was only able to support 10 percent of requests, losing out on at least $100 million in potential investments every year.
The new state budget package invests $650 million in a mix of commercial and consumer efforts designed to help large companies, small businesses and homeowners take advantage of alternative energy technology. Also, the measure includes funding for the nation’s first standards for harnessing cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel as motor fuels, with the potential to derive much of the fuel from non-food sources such as switchgrass, agricultural wastes, waste grease and algae. And the high price of oil wasn't the only reason to act – electric rate caps are set to end in less than three years.
The issue of high energy costs will radically change our communities, businesses and way of life. As with any change, there will be opportunities for those who can innovate. If transportation costs rise as predicted over the next decade, then we may see many of the manufacturing jobs we have lost to other countries return to meet the staffing needs of alternative-energy businesses. I will continue to work with the region’s economic development partners to help prepare northeastern Pennsylvania for the future and to assist individual businesses with new projects or issues with state government.
Projects under the new fund will range from investments in cutting-edge research to energy-saving weatherization efforts and tax credits for alternative energy products and programs, including help for homeowners and small businesses to install solar panels. The Department of Environmental Protection has said applications should be available in the next two to three months. If you would like to receive e-mail updates about the Alternative Energy Investment Fund, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on the "Fueling Energy Savings" icon, then click on the green envelope icon on the left-hand side of the page.
For more information on this or any other state-related matter, feel free to contact my constituent service office at 7 W. Fourth St., Bethlehem, 610-882-1510 or visit my Web site at www.pahouse.com/Brennan.
###