Penn Future Session Daze: Jan. 22, 2010

George champions drilling bills

House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Camille "Bud" George (D-Clearfield) yesterday introduced an important pair of bills that increase protections for natural resources and property owners from gas drilling. The bills were referred to George's committee, and we expect hearings and action this spring.

The first proposed law, House Bill 2213 would require the Department of Environmental Protection to beef up inspections of gas well sites, provide greater protection of drinking water, require full disclosure of chemicals in water used to frack the rock to release the gas, update bonding requirements and clarify that local governments still have a role in regulating where gas wells can be placed.

George's House Bill 2214 would forbid a drilling company from deducting post-production expenses in the calculation of royalty payments for landowners.

Growing support for a severance tax
This week the Lancaster Intelligencer-Journal joined the voices of many of the state's newspapers in calling for a natural gas severance tax. The editorial logically discusses the need for the levy, and notes that the argument that a severance tax would undermine the state's attempts to nurture the gas industry "now carries about as much weight as Conan O'Brien does at NBC."

Answer the call for citizen action at the Marcellus Muster

On Saturday, January 30, PennFuture is hosting the Marcellus Muster at Penn State University. This summit will include presentations by experts and legislative leaders, and discussion of how we can build a strong and effective citizens' campaign to ensure gas drillers pay their way, and protect our forests and water.

House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Camille "Bud" George (D-Clearfield), House Finance Chair David Levdansky (D-Allegheny and Washington), Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) and Senator Andy Dinniman (D-Chester and Montgomery), all strong supporters of bills that will help protect Pennsylvania's land, water, wildlife and communities from damage from gas drilling, will be at the Muster:

Click here for registration and other information on the Muster.

They're shopping til they drop in PPL territory
Electricity rate caps came off in the PPL service territory on January 1, and the market for alternative suppliers is robust. As of Monday, nearly 18 percent of customers have switched to an alternative supplier offering cheaper prices than PPL. But this story is even more compelling, according to data released by the Office of Consumer Advocate Sonny Popowsky. As of January 1, 2010, the day the PPL rate caps expired, 68.6 percent of industrial customers and 23.3 percent of commercial customers in the PPL territory have switched to an alternative supplier. This means that nearly 40 percent of the total electricity load is now using electricity from companies other than PPL.

Housing Trust Fund poised for House vote
Pennsylvania stands to get between $35 and $45 million in federal money that can be spent on affordable housing projects that can improve our neighborhoods, and help revitalize our older communities. But there's a catch: Pennsylvania doesn't have the necessary state housing trust fund so money can flow to housing projects.

Next week the House is poised to remedy this issue when it considers House Bill 60 sponsored by Commerce Committee Chair Pete Daley (D-Washington and Fayette). PennFuture urges approval of House Bill 60, which is supported by the Pennsylvania Works! Coalition, housing advocates and over 40 statewide organizations.

Warming world
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration released data this week showing the decade ending 2009 was the warmest on record. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also released temperature measurements from last year showing December ocean surface temperatures were the second warmest on record.

Podcast of the Week: If it's Wednesday, this must be Pittsburgh
In the past two weeks, PennFuture President and CEO Jan Jarrett has traveled throughout the state, holding breakfast meetings with business leaders and elected officials on the need to pass the Clean Energy and Green Jobs legislation.

This week's podcast features the presentations by Jan, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger, and State Senator Jim Ferlo (D-Allegheny) at the Wednesday, January 20 breakfast in Pittsburgh. The three speakers detail the need for the legislation and outline what business leaders can do to help pass it.

PennFuture works every day to make a difference for Pennsylvania's environment and economy. Isn't it time to join us and make a difference yourself? Go to our secure website to join PennFuture, and make sure you sign up for our publications. And remember, you can make sure you don't miss any podcasts by subscribing to them through iTunes.