09/25/2007
While Gov. Ed Rendell convened a special legislative session Monday to begin work on his energy-independence strategy, a coalition of state lawmakers has introduced an alternative plan that seeks to put Pennsylvania on a path to energy independence without raising taxes.
Led by state Reps. Mike Turzai (Allegheny), Stan Saylor (York) and Scott Hutchinson (Venango), minority chairman of the House Environmental Resources, the lawmakers claim their "Energy for PA" plan would lower energy costs for consumers, create good-paying jobs and protect Pennsylvania’s environment -- without raising taxes.
The proposals could not be timelier as electricity rate caps are set to expire throughout the Commonwealth over the next several years, and high gasoline prices and increases heating costs could dramatically raise the cost of doing business in Pennsylvania.
Specifically, the House alternative plan includes a series of tax credits aimed at encouraging private investment in Pennsylvania's energy and conservation sectors; uses existing state revenues to provide investments in next-generation energy technology; and streamlines the permitting process at the Department of Environmental Protection for energy-related projects.
Complete details of Energy for PA plan can be accessed at EnergyForPA.com.
The centerpiece of the governor's energy-independence strategy is an electricity tax on small business and residential electricity customers. Under the plan, small businesses could be forced to pay as much as $10,000 in new taxes. The average small manufacturer would pay about $1,000 in new taxes.
The taxes collected would be used to finance an $850 million state bond issue that would be used primarily by the state to pay research and development costs undertaken by large multinational corporations and other programs to benefit the nation's largest corporations.
The strategy also calls for small-business and residential electricity customers to subsidize the installation of new meters in homes across Pennsylvania to monitor electricity use. Industry officials report the meters would cost the average family up to $250.
Complete details of the governor's energy-independence strategy can be accessed at www.state.pa.us.
