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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Greg Vitali |
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State House subcommittee holds energy hearing
HARRISBURG, March 6 – The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy held a public hearing on the impact of state investment in green technologies on Pennsylvania's economy, according to state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, the subcommittee chairman.
"The testimony we heard today underscores the importance of state investments in the renewable energy industry," Vitali said at the hearing held at Valley Forge Military Academy and College. “Special Session House Bill 1 would provide this needed investment."
According to Vitali, the bill is expected to be considered on March 10 in the House.
Representatives of the Rendell administration, nongovernmental organizations and private companies testified before the committee today. There were seven presenters in all.
“In the last five years, our economy has benefitted from hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment from start-up businesses, early growth stage firms and mature companies, some of which are already established as leaders in their respective markets," said Dan Desmond, deputy secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. "These employers are creating thousands of jobs for our men and women, strengthening our reputation as a pioneering clean energy state and strengthening our national security by diversifying our energy supply."
John Hangar, president and CEO of PennFuture, said Pennsylvania is being out-funded by other states such as New York and New Jersey in both renewable energy and energy efficiency.
"The next two years could be decisive in determining whether or not Pennsylvania will become a leader in the alternative energy industry," Hangar said.
Brent Alderfer, executive vice president of the international energy company Iberdrola, said projects on the East Coast are competing for investments with projects all over the country and the world.
"It doesn't take a lot of money, but it takes smart use of the money to keep our lead in Pennsylvania," Alderfer said. "Then Pennsylvania projects will receive more favorable reviews from investment decision makers."
Rashid Abdul of the wind energy company Gamesa testified that his company employs 1,267people in Pennsylvania.
“We need continued support of the legislative process to keep the initiative going forward,” Abdul said.
Others testifying before the subcommittee today included Gary Smith of the Chester County Economic Development Council, John Rodgers of the Union of Concerned Scientists and Dan Griffiths of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Energy Innovation and Technology.
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