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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Greg Vitali |
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DEP Secretary McGinty, Reps. Vitali, Lentz, discuss energy legislation at community meeting
WALLINGFORD, April 28 – Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty joined state Reps. Greg Vitali and Bryan Lentz, both D-Delaware, and other environmental groups to discuss environmental legislation at a town hall meeting today in Wallingford.
The panel is part of a group trying to encourage state Senate passage of H.B. 2200 and Special Session H.B. 1. These bills have already been passed by the state House.
House Bill 2200 would require electric utilities to provide smart meters to their customers so they can save money on energy costs by allowing them to buy electricity at cheaper, off-peak periods. The bill would provide for the implementation of cost-effective programs to reduce energy demand and consumption in Pennsylvania.
Special Session H.B. 1 would allocate $850 million for research, development and deployment of various alternative-energy projects and technologies, and the establishment of high performance or "green" building standards. The legislation also would allow the state to invest money in attracting alternative energy-producing companies to the area.
"It is important that the state Senate act now on this legislation to help decrease our dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gases and keep everyone’s utility costs down," Vitali said. "And the allocation for research and development in Special Session House Bill 1 would help Pennsylvania bring alternative-energy technology companies to Pennsylvania, and along with it, good-paying jobs."
Vitali, along with other speakers, encouraged the audience to contact their local senators to urge passage of the legislation.
"People in my district have told me that energy costs are their top concern; the Senate should make it theirs as well," Lentz said. "Sitting on two well thought-out pieces of legislation that would help people reduce their energy bills and invest in the local economy is never a good way to conserve energy."
McGinty added, "It’s been nearly 15 months since the governor unveiled his Energy Independence Strategy, and since then, energy prices have only gone up. We need to act now to equip our families and businesses with the tools and information they need to avoid these crippling, budget-busting increases in energy costs."
According PennFuture President John Hangar, "time is running out for the state Senate to prevent ‘pain at the meter’ as we’ve had ‘pain at the pump.’ The Senate must pass House Bill 2200 and Special Session House Bill 1, or both consumers and the environment lose."
In addition to McGinty, Vitali and Lentz, speakers included Hangar; Eric Thumma, director of policy and regulatory affairs, Iberdrola Renewable Energies USA; Charles Reichner of Heat Shed, a solar energy company; and Matt Lillard of Green Savers LLC, an energy conservation business in Delaware County.
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