Today, Gov. Rendell delivered his State of the State
address, which included several key environmental priorities for 2008.
Most notably, the governor continued his focus on energy issues, and the need
to make Pennsylvania a leader in the areas of alternative energy and energy
efficiency in order to protect our environment and promote a vibrant economy.
PennEnvironment wholeheartedly supports Gov. Rendell’s focus on energy policy,
as promoting a new energy future for Pennsylvania is critical to protecting our
environment, while securing our energy system and saving businesses and
homeowners money on their electricity bills.
Specifically, we support the Governor’s efforts to boost energy efficiency and
conservation within Pennsylvania, and to promote truly clean, renewable energy
sources like wind and solar power. Gov. Rendell’s leadership on this
issue has been a critical force behind the recent emergence of the wind power
industry in Pennsylvania. We are also very supportive of the governor’s
proposal to use a small fee on electricity bills to support alternative energy
and efficiency programs. Many other states have already implemented
similar fees at higher levels and are reaping the benefits—it’s time for Pennsylvania
to join the effort. Finally, we support the governor's call to require
the inclusion of cellulosic fuels within any biofuels program adopted by
Pennsylvania. Cellulosic ethanol is significantly less energy-intensive
to produce than other forms of ethanol, and is generally much less harmful to
the environment.
PennEnvironment also agrees with Gov. Rendell's assertion that we need to
become "independent from fossil fuels," which is why we continue to
oppose Gov. Rendell’s insistence on also promoting dirtier forms of energy in
Pennsylvania like liquid coal (or “coal-to-liquids”) and so-called “clean coal”
projects as part of his alternative energy proposals. In addition to
creating enormous amounts of global warming pollution, many of these dirty technologies
are incredibly expensive. Given the limited financial resources available
for energy investments in Pennsylvania, and the economic stagnation nationally,
PennEnvironment feels strongly that we should be investing first in the
cleanest and cheapest energy resources.
Finally, while many of Gov. Rendell’s initiatives will help to cut global
warming pollution, Pennsylvania—which produces more global warming pollution
than every state besides Texas and California—must have a state-level global warming
pollution reduction plan. The governor announced his intentions to unveil
such a plan last year, but the details have yet to be revealed.
PennEnvironment urges Gov. Rendell to follow the lead of other states from New
Jersey to California, and implement a global warming plan for Pennsylvania that
will achieve cuts in global warming pollution consistent with what scientists
have said is necessary to avoid global warming’s worst effects: 20 percent cuts
by 2020 and at least 80 percent cuts by 2050.
