Energy Testimony

Summary: PennEnvironment believes that state level energy polices are urgently needed in Pennsylvania to ensure that the Commonwealth can meet its energy needs while preserving the environment, protecting public health, and guarding consumers against volatile and rising energy prices. This winter’s expected energy price spikes, along with this past summer’s gasoline price spikes, necessitate that state leaders develop solutions to our energy problems as soon as possible. And while this testimony outlines many policy options, my most basic point is that energy prices are rising first and foremost because energy demand has outpaced energy supply, and thus the most effective way to control energy prices is to utilize efficiency and conservation programs to reduce our energy demand. A number of these policies centered around the transportation sector are also outlined in PennEnvironment’s recent report, “Making Sense of America’s Oil Needs.”  We can solve our energy problems nationally, and in Pennsylvania, without resorting to environmentally risky proposals that will further our reliance on fossil fuels while doing nothing to increase our energy independence. Such proposals include opening more public lands and wild places to oil and gas drilling, relaxing air and water pollution standards for vehicles and/or stationary sources, increasing investments in fossil fuel technologies at the expense of renewable energy and energy efficiency investments, or lowering the gas tax. These policies will lead to only a short-term economic gain while threatening the environment and public health of the Commonwealth. This testimony addresses policy opportunities in the following issue areas: energy efficiency, alternative fuels, the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard and renewable energy, and mass transportation.

Download our PDF for the full testimony. 

energy_hearing_testimony_12_6_05.pdf