Stopping New Energy Taxes: Flick, Policy Committee Host Hearing in Lycoming County
WILLIAMSPORT— Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union), Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata) and other lawmakers hosted a hearing yesterday at the Pennsylvania College of Technology titled “Stopping New Energy Taxes” to analyze how unfavorable energy policies negatively impact consumers and businesses and drive investments outside of Pennsylvania.
Testifiers included Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Williamsport), majority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and sponsor of Senate Bill 186; Joe Delmar, director, governmental affairs, Cogentrix Energy, LLC; and Rod Williamson, executive director, Industrial Energy Consumers of Pennsylvania.
An energy powerhouse, Pennsylvania is “the engine that drives this whole region,” said Yaw. Yet the taxes favored by Gov. Josh Shapiro, such as those in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) which Yaw is trying to repeal, would not leverage Pennsylvania energy. Instead, RGGI, a multi-state cap-and-trade program that imposes a carbon tax on power generators, would create instability and uncertainty which, for any industry, is the “pariah” – a term used by Yaw.
“A well-functioning competitive market is critical to keeping prices down and to allow for consumer choice,” said Delmar. “Forcing changes to the competitive market under the banner of consumer protection can further undermine electricity markets, thereby raising consumer costs and threatening resource adequacy.”
As Williamson pointed out, “A lot of these other intermittent energy sources being brought to market are not dispatchable.”
“Pennsylvania’s electricity rates are ranked 18th highest in the nation compared to other states and RGGI will increase the cost of electricity even more. Electricity rates in every RGGI state are increasing faster than in Pennsylvania,” he continued.
“As Pennsylvania families and residents deal with financial pressures daily, it’s important to have in-depth conversations on how we can improve energy affordability in the Commonwealth,” said Flick. “I’ve learned a great deal of what it’s going to take for us to be successful in this mission. I’m grateful for everyone who participated in this worthwhile discussion, and I look forward to acting quickly with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.”
“The people of Pennsylvania are struggling to make ends meet despite our capability to generate enough power for not just our state, but the whole East Coast,” said Rowe. “Pennsylvania is the third-largest producer of electricity and, as we learned today, Pennsylvanians are paying the 18th most expensive rates in the country. That does not make sense, and it is why we are having these hearings: To identify sensible energy policy that makes energy affordable and reliable for all Pennsylvanians and encourages investment in our Commonwealth.”
To watch the complete hearing, visit
pagoppolicy.com/video/policy.
Representative Jamie Flick
83th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nate Temple
717-260-6396
ntemple@pahousegop.com
repflick.com