The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- 6th Oil/Natural Gas Shock: ‘Drillers Continue To Return Cash To Shareholders… Rather Than Boost Production’ [PaEN]

-- Federal Court Hears Senate Republican Caucus Appeal For Standing In Challenge To Delaware River Basin Commission Ban On Fracking  [PaEN]

-- Dog Whistle: House Republicans Move Bill Saying DEP Permit Applicants Are Always Right; Ignores Environmental Justice Concerns; Adds More Bureaucracy  [PaEN]

-- House Passes Bill To Block RGGI Regulation - Again; Senate Republicans File Lawsuit  [PaEN]

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: House Republicans Move To Block PA From RGGI Climate Program, Offer One-Time Federal Money Instead

-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: Republican Senators File For Injunction To Block Gov. Wolf’s Carbon Pollution Cutting Plan For Power Plants - RGGI

-- Majority Chair Of Senate Committee Calls Opponents Of Natural Gas Infrastructure ‘Radical Environmentalists,’ Arguments By Of Supporters Of RGGI ‘Hysteria’  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Sen. Yudichak: Analysis Concludes RGGI Carbon Tax Could Hike Electricity Rates For Consumers [If you don’t count reinvestment of $400 million in RGGI emission credit auction proceeds.]

-- Senate Committees Hear Familiar Pro/Con Comments On Economic, Environmental Impacts Of EQB’s Final Carbon Pollution Reduction Program Covering Power Plants - RGGI  [PaEN]

-- House Passes Bill To Block RGGI Regulation - Again; Senate Republicans File Lawsuit  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Don’t Thwart RGGI Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan

-- Republicans On House Committee Move Bills To Unleash Natural Gas Industry In Pennsylvania, Kill RGGI  [PaEN]

-- Republican Chair Of House Environmental Committee Believes Opponents Of Natural Gas Infrastructure Projects ‘Just Need To Be Ignored And Politically Ran Over’  [PaEN]

-- Warren Times: PA Republican Lawmakers Double Down On Oil, Gas Drilling

-- StateImpactPA - Jon Hurdle: PA Republican Measures To Boost Natural Gas Output Unlikely To Succeed, Analysts Say

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Lawmakers Push Pro-Fossil Fuel Bills, Citing Russia’s War, Need For Energy Security

-- MCall - Ford Turner: House Republican Lawmakers Advance Energy Bills Amid Concern Over Prices, Russia-Ukraine War

-- Bay Journal: Ukraine War Triggers Push For More Fracking In Pennsylvania  - By Ad Crable  [PaEN]

-- New Castle News: PA Conventional Oil Industry, House Republicans Say Domestic Investments Needed To Increase Natural Gas Production [Conventional industry produces less than 1% Of PA’s natural gas.  Click Here to get the real story]

-- Bipartisan Resolution Advances In House To Study Wildlife Conservation Corridors  [PaEN]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA Must Do Better To Address Stormwater Flooding - Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery)

Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week  [PaEN]

Senate/House Bills Moving Last Week

The following Senate and House bills saw legislative action last week--

House

Talking Away DEP’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Authority:  House Bill 637 (Struzzi-R- Indiana) taking away DEP’s statutory authority to adopt regulations to reduce carbon pollution from any source, including power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  The legislation would kill the final RGGI regulations now pending for publication.

The bill includes a one-time allocation from federal American Rescue Plan funding to--

-- $125 million for research, development, construction or site development of carbon dioxide and methane reduction technologies, including carbon capture, micro-grid nuclear power plants, sequestration and hydrogen fuel projects.   At least $12.5 million is to be used for methane abatement projects from plugging abandoned gas wells.

-- $62.5 million for sewer and water infrastructure and stormwater mitigation, including riparian planting for carbon dioxide reduction, stream buffering and streambank restoration.

-- $62.5 million for assisting workers and communities impacted by electric generation or manufacturing plant closures, including training projects, extended unemployment benefits and investments in projects to redevelop the closed plant sites.

The bill was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House by a vote of 126 to 72, less than a two-thirds needed to override the Governor’s expected veto.  Read more here.

It is a companion to Senate Bill 119 (Pittman-R- Indiana) that was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to House Appropriations

Talking Away DEP’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Authority:  Senate Bill 119 (Pittman-R-Indiana) was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and then referred to House Appropriations.  Read more here.

Adding Bureaucracy To Permit Reviews: House Bill 604 (Fritz-R-Susquehanna) adding more bureaucracy to the DEP permit review process, declaring in law the applicant for an environmental permit is always right and ignoring environmental justice concerns.  The bill was amended on the House Floor and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.  Read more here.

Unilateral Change To DRBC Voting: House Bill 2450 (Fritz-R-Wayne) proposes to unilaterally change the 1 state 1 vote now in the Delaware River Basin Commission compact to a system awarding votes based on the land area of each state in the Delaware Watershed.  It would give Pennsylvania 6 votes, New Jersey 3 votes, New York 2 votes, Delaware 1 vote and the federal government 1 vote.  This is another in a years-long attempt by Republicans to reverse the unconventional shale gas fracking moratorium adopted by the Commission in various forms starting in 2010.  The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.  Read more here.

Unilateral Change To DRBC Fracking Ban: House Bill 2451 (Fritz-R-Wayne) proposes to unilaterally change the Delaware River Basin Commission compact by including a provision that would reverse the unconventional shale gas fracking moratorium adopted by the Commission in various forms starting in 2010.  The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.   Read more here.

Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force: House Bill 2458 (White-R-Philadelphia) establishing a Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force to identify obstacles preventing the Port of Philadelphia from becoming an LNG export terminal and develop a plan on the issue within a year.  The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.   Read more here. 

End Moratorium In Leasing More State Forest Land For Drilling:  House Bill 2461 (Owlett-R-Tioga) would end Gov. Wolf’s moratorium on leasing more State Forest land for oil and gas development and directing DCNR to establish a program to lease more lands for drilling (sponsor summary).   The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to House Appropriations.   Read more here.

End NY, NY Anti-Pipeline Policies: House Resolution 187 (Saylor-R-York) urging the Governors of New York and New Jersey to end anti-pipeline policies that block Pennsylvania natural gas from reaching markets in New England (sponsor summary).  The resolution was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and adopted.  Read more here.

Expand PA Oil & Gas Infrastructure: House Resolution 189 (Metcalfe-R-Butler) resolution urging President, Congress to take measures to expand Pennsylvania’s and the country’s oil and gas infrastructure.  The resolution was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and adopted.  Read more here.

Wildlife Corridors: House Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors was reported from the House Transportation Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.  Read more here.

Senate

Adding Requirements On Small Water/Wastewater Systems:  Senate Bill 597 (Stefano-R-Fayette) would impose conflicting and expensive requirements on small water and wastewater systems for no benefit to their customers and if they can’t comply they would come under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission was removed from the Table and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.  Read more here 

Bill Calendars

Senate (April 4): Senate Bill 284 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would load up renewable energy projects, energy efficiency products and high-efficiency locomotives with bonds to prevent their development [Read more here]; Senate Bill 597 (Stefano-R-Fayette) would impose conflicting and expensive requirements on small water and wastewater systems for no benefit to their customers and if they can’t comply they would come under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission Read more here];  Senate Bill 1030 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) to temporarily suspend Pennsylvania’s regulations which adopted California regulations related to heavy-duty vehicle diesel controls, leaving the federal standards to govern while the suspension is in effect [Read more here];  House Bill 221 (Rader-R-Monroe) authorizing use of open space preservation funding for maintenance. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (April 11): House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R- Allegheny) authorizing the establishment of a local solar energy subscriber program [not preferred by clean energy advocates Read more here];  House Bill 2069 (Cutler-R- Lancaster) Amend Article III, Section 9, to exempt the disapproval of a regulation by the General Assembly from the presentment requirement for the governor’s approval or disapproval [Read more here]; House Bill 2070 (Cutler- R-Lancaster) Amend Article IV, to add a new section providing that any executive order or proclamation issued by the governor, which purports to have the force of law, may not be in effect for more than 21 days, unless extended by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly [Read more here]; House Bill 2458 (White-R-Philadelphia) establishing a Philadelphia LNG Export Task Force to identify obstacles preventing the Port of Philadelphia from becoming an LNG export terminal and develop a plan on the issue within a year;  House Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

April 5-- House Democratic Policy Committee informational meeting on toxic schools. Seafarers’ Union Hall, 2604 S. 4th St., Philadelphia. 3:00 p.m.

April 20-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing on exploring hardwood forestry issues in PA.  The Red Fern Banquet & Conference Center, 421 Old Kersey Road, Kersey, Elk County. 1:30 p.m.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

NOTE: Watch for a Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee meeting Wednesday.

April 4-- Senate Transportation Committee hearing on House Bill 140 (Maloney-R-Berks) protecting pedestrian and bike lanes.  Room 8E-B East Wing. 11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

End Vehicle Emissions Inspections: House Resolution 190 (Wheeland-R-Lycoming) urging Congress and EPA to end regulations requiring vehicle emissions inspections.

Annual Adjustment Of In-Lieu Of Tax Payments: Senate Bill 1143 (Dush-R-Jefferson) would increase the based amount of in-lieu of tax payments and then provide for annual adjustments based on the consumer price index made on public lands owned by DCNR and the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions to school districts, townships and counties.

Urging Restart Of Keystone XL Pipeline: Senate Resolution 255 (Langerholc-R-Bedford) urging the President to expedite completion of Keystone XL oil pipeline [for Canadian oil - not in Pennsylvania].

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

Session Schedule

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

Senate

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

May 23, 24, 25

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

April 11, 12, 13, 25, 26, 27

May 23, 24, 25

June 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

September 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

October 24, 25, 26

November 14, 15, 16

4/4/2022