|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
|
State
Rep. Greg Vitali
|
|
Vitali calls on legislature to pass alternative energy bill
to stimulate economy
MEDIA, Jan. 13 – State Rep. Greg Vitali told people attending PennFuture's Clean Energy breakfast this morning at the Media Community Center that the legislature should quickly pass his or state Sen. Ted Erickson's alternative energy legislation to help boost employment in the state.
"Now that we have addressed the budget, it's time to turn our attention to House Bill 80 and Senate Bill 92," said Vitali, D-Delaware. "These bills have the potential to create thousands of good-paying green jobs in our state. With Pennsylvania's unemployment rate hovering about 8.5 percent, the time to act is now."
Vitali's bill calls for an increase in Tier I requirements in Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards to 15 percent by 2024. Tier I requirements are the proportion of electricity that electric distribution companies such as PECO must purchase from renewable sources such as wind and solar. The requirement is now 8 percent by 2020. The bill also would increase the share of energy electric companies must obtain from solar photovoltaic sources to 3 percent by 2024. The requirement is now 0.5 percent by 2020.
Additionally, the bill also would require the establishment of a framework for a carbon dioxide capture and sequestration network to receive, via pipeline, carbon dioxide captured from power plants.
Vitali said his bill is in a position procedurally to be voted on by the full House as soon as Jan. 25. He said he is attempting to secure enough votes for its passage. Vitali urged the crowd of 150 to contact their state representatives and senators and ask them to vote for the bill.
"We can put many people to work installing solar panels, manufacturing and installing wind turbines and building geothermal systems," Vitali said. "It's a win-win. We help the environment and we help the economy at the same time."
###