Pennsylvanians Will Suffer Through Another Two Winters without
Relief If No Action
PITTSBURGH--(Business Wire)--Santa Claus and other supporters of proposed legislation
comprising the Energy Independence Strategy (EIS) today handed out
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) at Independence Visitors Center
in Philadelphia, calling on citizens to contact their legislators and
urge them to pass the energy bills without further delay. The event
was sponsored by Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) and
included Roger Clark, manager for technology and policy at The
Reinvestment Fund; Felicia Coward, executive director of Friends
Neighborhood Guild; Mike McKinley, owner of Solaris Inc., a small
solar company; and John Hanger, PennFuture's president and CEO.
"Unless the legislature takes quick action, 2007 will be a lost
year for Pennsylvanians," said Hanger. "We will be no closer to
providing families and businesses with the tools and technology they
need to use energy smarter. We will be at least two winters away from
being able to protect households from higher heating bills. We will be
facing another summer with dangerous peaks of electricity use that
leads to higher electricity bills and possible brownouts or even
blackouts. And we will have lost $1 billion in private investment in
our growing renewable energy industry.
"Our energy problems are getting more serious every month," said
Hanger. "Funding renewable energy, supporting biofuels, boosting
energy conservation, and cutting peak electricity demands with smart
meters have been discussed and debated since February, but so far, no
action.
"It's time for bold, immediate action, and that means the
legislature should act before they leave on holiday," continued
Hanger. "Oil prices are near or at $100 a barrel and gasoline is over
$3 a gallon - a full dollar over the price when the energy legislation
was proposed; the ice cap dramatically disappeared in the Arctic this
summer, with climatologists predicting worse to come; and electricity
rate caps have already ended in four areas of Pennsylvania and will
end in the rest of Pennsylvania in the next two to three years.
Conserving energy, cutting peak electricity demand, and making
electricity and transportation fuels from renewable energy are the
only ways to protect our economy and environment from crippling price
shocks. We need action now."
The press conference marked the first local appearance of Santa
Claus (R&D - North Pole), who has been issuing a daily list of the
'naughty and nice' to highlight the need for immediate bold action on
the environment. "My reindeer won't be able to deliver presents if
there's no snow," said the icon. "We must have strong energy policy in
place this year, or Christmas itself is endangered, along with my
North Pole home." Previous lists are online at PennFuture's website
(www.pennfuture.org).
PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization
that advances policies to protect and improve the state's environment
and economy. PennFuture's activities include litigating cases before
regulatory bodies and in local, state and federal courts, advocating
and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level, public
education and assisting citizens in public advocacy.
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future
Jeanne K. Clark, 412-258-6683
or
Christine Knapp, 215-545-9692
Copyright Business Wire 2007
