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Special Session
on Energy Policy Recent
Action
The House recently passed Special Session House Bill 1 (SS
HB 1) that has now come to the Senate for consideration.
We are just beginning to review its provisions. It is my
understanding that it differs substantially from the comprehensive
energy bill that the Senate sent over to the House. I expect that
there will be a number of amendments coming as we attempt to reach a
compromise on the issue.
SS HB 1 - House Democrats' Analysis
SS HB 1 - House Republicans' Summary
Senate
Action
On December 12th, the
Senate passed three separate energy bill that are a start in the
ongoing discussion and work of the Special Session on Energy.
Senate Bill 1 -
the Alternative Energy Investment Act - authorizes $650 million in
spending on various programs, including a $210 million for the
Commonwealth Financing Authority to fund clean energy and
alternative energy production projects. The other funds will be
used for:
o
$15 million for the Ben Franklin
Technology Development Authority for investments in alternative
energy technologies and venture capital for start-up businesses
o
$25 million is available for pollution
control technology projects to allow coal-fired power plans to meet
federal and state requirements for mercury, nitrogen oxide, and
sulfur dioxide emission reductions
o
$20 million for a Consumer Home Energy
Efficiency Program for emergency use to supplement LIHEAP and to
provide grants, reimbursements and rebates for residential energy
conservation projects
o
$5 million for a Home Energy Efficiency
Loan Program to provide low-interest loans for the
purchase/installation of energy efficiency projects including air
sealing, insulation, energy efficient windows or doors, heating or
cooling systems, etc.
o
$7-12 million for the Alternative
Energy Production Tax Credit Program that allows taxpayers that
construct an alternative energy production project to receive a tax
credit of up to 15% of the costs
Senate Bill 22
amends the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act to do several things with
the existing program:
o
Increase the amount of reimbursement
for production of alternative fuels to 10 cents
o
Provide funding for education and
outreach to consumers and dealers regarding the program
o
Allocates $100,000 for a nitrogen tire
inflation grant program
o
Establishes a Biodiesel Production
Incentive Program to provide 75 cents per gallon produced to a
maximum of $2 million per producer per year/$5 million aggregate,
over a three year period
Senate Bill 36
– the Biodiesel Study & Production Incentive Act – establishes
mandates related to the production of biodiesel in Pennsylvania:
o
Requires that all diesel sold in
Pennsylvania contain a minimum of 2% biodiesel when the production
of biodiesel in the Commonwealth reaches 60 million gallons
o
Standard would continue to increase
based on production numbers
o
State Departments would need to certify
that there is appropriate infrastructure and transportation for the
transport of biodiesel before the mandates could take place
o
DEP would be required to conduct a
third-party study to determine the effect of the mandates on PA’s
ability to achieve Clean Air standards
History
On July 30th of this year, Governor Rendell issued a
proclamation convening the General Assembly in Special &
Extraordinary Session for the purpose of considering legislation
regarding energy policy. Specifically, the General Assembly is
to consider investments in clean and renewable energy, energy
conservation, and requirements regarding the renewable energy
content of liquid fuels - that discussion includes economic
development efforts relating to those ideas and means of funding
these initiatives.
I am pleased to have been named as a member of the Committee on
Energy Policies for the Special Session. The work on these
proposals has just begun so I encourage you to return to this page
often for information regarding the work that we are doing, to
educate yourself regarding the proposals being put forth, and to
weigh in with your thoughts on what it is that we should be
accomplishing in this special session.
Special Session Calendar
Special Session Committee Meetings
Special Session Legislation I Have Co-Sponsored
Special Session Calendar Results
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December 10, 2007 |
December 11, 2007 |
December 12, 2007 |
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December 3, 2007 |
December 4, 2007 |
December 5, 2007 |
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October 29, 2007 |
November 13, 2007 |
November 28, 2007 |
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October 22, 2007 |
October 23, 2007 |
October 24, 2007 |
Special
Session Bills Introduced:
Special Session Bill
Summaries:
Special Session Resolutions Introduced:
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