Both the Senate and House Environmental Resources and Energy Committees have hearings scheduled on the issue of requiring Pennsylvania electric utilities to have a percentage of the electricity they generate come from renewable or environmentally beneficial sources.

The Senate Committee is set to have two hearings, one on June 8 and another on June 23 to hear comments on Senate Bill 1030, sponsored by Sen. Erickson. Witnesses for June 8 are scheduled to be: DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty, James Seif, PPL Corporation, Mike Ewall, Energy Justice Network, David McAnally, US Wind Force, Stephen Brame, PA Rural Electric Association and Denise Foster, PJM Interconnection.

In the House, the Committee will consider comments on House Bill 2174, sponsored by Rep. Ross. Witnesses are scheduled to be: PUC Chairman Terry Fitzpatrick, Energy Asociation President, Mike Love, and Denise Foster, Senior Legal Counsel for PJM. The Committee has held three prior meetings on this topic.

On June 15 the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will have a hearing on Gov. Rendell’s Growing Greener II proposals and will hear from DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty and DCNR’s Secretary Michael DiBerardinis.

Fees imposed on manufacturers and households to support a proposed $800 million bond issue and other programs have been controversial with members of the General Assembly.

6/1/2004