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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mark Cohen |
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Cohen 'Clean and Green' bill dovetails with Obama vision
HARRISBURG, Jan. 20 – State Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Phila., is reintroducing legislation to establish a Clean and Green Energy Corps in Pennsylvania.
The bill's content echoes a concept proposed in Congress last year by then-Sen. Barack Obama.
The objective of the initiative is to create a body of young people to complete energy-efficiency and weatherization projects on low-income households in Pennsylvania. The goal of the program is two-fold: to make homes more energy efficient and provide job training for young adults, Cohen said.
"We have, at this time, not only a tremendous need, but a tremendous opportunity to harness the energy of young people to better their communities and their lives," Cohen said. "With growing energy costs, there has never been a more crucial time to make homes more energy efficient, and with recent job losses, quality job training is vital.
"It is my hope and intent that this legislation could be coordinated with President Obama's energy and community service program reiterated in his address today."
The lawmaker added that high prices for petroleum, natural gas, electricity and coal in the state, coupled with increased consumption, have made energy costs escalate in Pennsylvania. However energy efficiency and weatherization projects decrease the effects of energy costs, Cohen said. For example, when a home is weatherized, properly insulated and given window improvements, the household can reduce heating and cooling bills by up to 50 percent.
Cohen said the legislation (formerly H.B. 2577) received bipartisan support in the last session.
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