Clean Energy/Green Jobs bills = jobs + money

A new study underscores how vital it is for the General Assembly to pass the Clean Energy and Green Jobs legislation, House Bill 80, sponsored by Representatives Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) and Chris Ross (R-Chester), or Senate Bill 92, sponsored by Senator Ted Erickson (R-Delaware). The bills would increase Pennsylvania's renewable energy standards.

The study, "Assessment of a 15 Percent Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard," was released Monday by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. It was prepared by Black&Veatch, a leading and nationally recognized global engineering, consulting and construction company. The study evaluated the impact of raising the Tier I clean energy requirements of Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) law from 8 percent to 15 percent, including a 3 percent set-aside for solar energy

The Black & Veatch study predicts that the Clean Energy/ Green Jobs bills would create 129,000 jobs, and add $26.2 billion in economic output and $5.5 billion in earnings to Pennsylvania's economy compared to relying on fossil fuels to meet our electricity needs.

The study also found that increasing the supply of renewable energy would exert downward pressure on electricity prices and save between $1.9 and $4.6 billion for Pennsylvania consumers. In other words, passing this legislation would create jobs, boost the economy, and save consumers money compared to not passing the bill.

The fate of the forest
Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) has introduced the State Forest Natural Gas Moratorium Leasing Act (House Bill 2235). The bill would impose at least a five-year moratorium on leasing of state forest lands for natural gas drilling and production. It also requires specific, ongoing monitoring and assessment by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Thirty-six House members have co-sponsored the bill.

Representative David Levdansky (D-Allegheny) plans to introduce separate drilling moratorium and drilling study and assessment bills in the very near future.

PennFuture urges House members to co-sponsor these bills.

Time is running out to help protect Pennsylvania's water from drilling
You have until February 12 to make a difference by supporting the new regulations for industrial wastewater proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

DEP needs the new regulations to ensure that wastewater generated at Marcellus Shale gas drilling sites does not damage streams and rivers. Marcellus wastewater contains high levels of TDS in the form of salts and can be two to four times saltier than seawater. High TDS levels can harm aquatic life, ruin the taste of drinking water and render river water unfit for industrial users.

Please voice your support for these important new regulations that limit the volume of TDS that new sources of pollution can discharge into our rivers and streams. Send your written comments--the deadline is February 12--on the proposed rule to:

Environmental Quality Board
P.O. Box 8477
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477
regcomments@state.pa.us

Cap and Cash Back making a comeback?
The momentum in Congress to pass cap and trade legislation to address global warming has slowed considerably. Two principal alternatives to the legislation are emerging. One is the broad compromise effort by Senators John Kerry (D-Massachusetts), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut)

The other global warming proposal regaining steam is cap and cash back. The idea behind it is simple:

1. A national cap (which would shrink over time) is set on global warming pollution;
2. Polluters must either clean up, or buy pollution allowances through auctions;
3. All of the proceeds from the auctions go directly to every citizen on an equal basis.

The cap and cash back legislation before Congress is the Carbon Limits and Energy for America's Renewal (CLEAR) act, introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). The bill would reduce global warming pollution 20 percent by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050, at the same time returning an estimated annual $1,100 tax free to the average family of four.

Podcast of the Week: Waiting for Frosty to show up
The podcast took off the second the snow warnings started, determined to buy the milk, bread, and toilet paper that the law apparently requires you to purchase in advance of a snowstorm. So no podcast this week, but you can always find an interesting listen from our previous podcasts.

Stay safe until the podcast returns.

PennFuture's Session Daze is designed to be a brief, informative and occasionally humorous look at public policy in Pennsylvania. Please visit our website for more information about PennFuture.