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Guest Editorial |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Nicole Reigelman |
State Rep. Chris King |
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To: Editorial/Opinion Page Editor
From: State Rep. Chris King, 142nd Legislative District
Subject: Energy Independence Strategy for Pennsylvania
Please publish the following guest editorial by state Rep. Chris King on the need for Pennsylvania to invest in energy independence. If you need more information, please contact Nicole Reigelman at 717-787-7895 or by e-mail at nreigelm@pahouse.net.
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As Americans prepare to celebrate July 4th, I have been thinking about Pennsylvania's critical role in achieving American independence. Freedom was debated here, and the Declaration of Independence was drafted and signed here. Now it is time to engage in the fight for a new independence -- a freedom from dependence on foreign oil. Similar to the summer of 1776, in this summer of 2007, Pennsylvania has the chance to lead the charge in reducing our dependence on foreign oil and investing in real energy independence.
This year, the House Democrats introduced wide-ranging measures aimed at smartly investing in common-sense practices to save consumers $10 billion in energy costs over the next 10 years, reduce Pennsylvania’s reliance on foreign fuels and increase our clean-energy production capacity; and expand Pennsylvania’s energy production and energy technology sectors to create more jobs.
Energy is a costly and crucial commodity, and now is the time to invest in more efficient and cost-effective sources. The Democrats’ Energy Independence Strategy is comprised of four bills, each tackling a different aspect of the initiative.
Included in the strategy are measures that will have a direct impact on households across the state, whether through the installation of smart meters to reduce energy spending, rebates on purchases of new, energy-efficient appliances, or assistance for residents to pay for the installation of solar panels.
Other bills would meet broader objectives, like investing in the production of homegrown biofuels to replace the fuel we currently purchase from the Middle East.
The strategy also would help make Pennsylvania’s businesses more competitive. The plan calls for allowing large energy consumers to enter longer-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.
The growing energy sector will also create jobs in the Commonwealth. With Pennsylvania's place on the forefront of this up-and-coming industry, the state is attracting companies that want to be part of the revolution. These companies bring high-paying, secure jobs, which will add to the local economy and improve the quality of life for our residents.
I strongly believe that this energy package is vitally important to not only decreasing our future energy costs, encouraging energy conservation, and developing alternative sources of energy, but also to ensuring the safety and security of our nation by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Everyone seems to agree that we cannot keep importing 60 percent of the fuel we use in this country, and this energy package takes the bold steps necessary to help us reduce that dependence.
I am proud to be one of the leading advocates of the package, and to also have introduced my own bill (H.B. 1207) that would create a separate, cabinet-level State Energy Office. I believe the growth we have seen in alternative energy sourcing will continue to intensify and such an office would provide great benefit to Pennsylvania in this cutting-edge sector.
State Rep. Chris King (www.pahouse.com/King) represents the 142nd Legislative District in Bucks County.
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