By Rep. Mike Puskaric (R-Allegheny) & Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria)

The Guest Essay first appeared at TribLive.com on April 15, 2022--

As the Ukrainian people fiercely defend their nation and fight for their freedom, Pennsylvanians are eager to do what they can to weaken Russia and help Ukraine’s freedom fight.

To be sure, Pennsylvania has already taken important steps to help Ukraine in this fight — pulling Russian-made products from the state-run liquor store shelves and divesting public funds from Russian financial interests.

But we can do more.

The answer to this freedom fight abroad is energy freedom at home.

Russia’s military and economic might is largely powered by its robust energy exports — namely oil and natural gas. It is the second-largest producer of natural gas in the world and the third-largest producer of oil.

Our European allies are reliant on Russian oil and gas, giving Russian President Vladimir Putin outsized leverage and influence as he wages war against Ukraine.

The U.S. is the world’s top producer of both oil and natural gas, and we are second only to China in solar power capacity.

We can help Ukraine and our European allies by increasing American production of oil and gas while also boosting our production of low-cost solar energy and micro hydroelectric generation.

From our position as the second-largest natural gas producing state in the U.S. to our fledgling and fast-growing solar power industry, the Keystone State is a major player on the world energy stage.

But, again, we can do more.

Solar is getting more efficient and cheaper to produce every year, making it the fastest growing source of electricity in America.

But Pennsylvania currently sits in the bottom half of states for solar production, despite the solar industry having invested more than $2.4 billion in the Commonwealth.

Energy independence for both the U.S. and our European allies will serve to strengthen us all while weakening Russia’s economic position.

To achieve that, we need to free the energy sector of unnecessary state regulations that hamper growth and production.

These state regulations are also hurting rural families and preventing consumers and businesses from saving money in their energy costs.

Land leases for solar and natural gas facilities provide a financial lifeline for Pennsylvania farmers, landowners and their families, and save rural open spaces from being paved over for development.

Currently, state regulations too often prevent these families from earning an income off their property for solar facilities.

If Pennsylvania’s regulations were eased, we could provide a much-needed boost to rural families while also increasing our energy production to help stabilize prices.

As another example of unnecessary state regulation, micro hydroelectric generation needs one last hurdle cleared by creating a specific permit to clear the way for investment, yet Harrisburg refuses to move the required legislation.

Pennsylvania is a great candidate for micro hydroelectric generation.

With our ample waterways, mountainous topography and heavy industry with hydraulic flow on site, the opportunities for consistent power production are endless.

 Imagine a water treatment facility powering your community; that is what is possible with today’s technology.

You don’t have to look far to see the impact of global events on average Pennsylvanians.

The price of gasoline remains at near-record highs. The more energy we can produce at home, the less pain Pennsylvanians will feel, both at the pump and from their electricity bills.

Pennsylvania consumers and businesses deserve to have real energy freedom and the ability to benefit from the stable, low-cost electricity prices that solar and natural gas power can deliver.

Energy freedom will also create jobs and provide consistent revenues and long-lasting economic prosperity for Pennsylvania communities.

We urge the state Legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf to support responsible, pro-growth energy policies that eliminate government regulations, lower costs for Pennsylvanians and give farmers the chance to earn extra income for their families.

And, in doing so, we’ll help our European allies sever their economic ties to Russia.

Let’s support freedom abroad by supporting energy freedom here at home.

(Photo: Solar panels near the PA Turnpike’s maintenance facility in Westmoreland County- Tribune Review.)

Republican Rep. Mike Puskaric represents the 39th District, including parts of Allegheny and Washington counties. Democratic Rep. Frank Burns represents the 72nd District (Cambria County).

NewsClips:

-- Bloomberg: U.S. Natural Gas Price Spikes To Highest Since January;  Futures Up 90% So Far This Year; Inventories 17% Below 5 Year Seasonal Average 

-- Bloomberg: U.S. Natural Gas Closes At 13-Year High With Inventories Falling

-- WNEP: PA Natural Gas Industry Facing Labor Shortages - Programs Not Attracting Enough Students

            [“"I don't have enough students. Like I said, if I had 30 more students, I could probably still not fill all the open positions that are out here, even just for the internship opportunities," said program director Sue Gumble, Lackawanna College School of Petroleum & Natural Gas.””] 

Related Articles:

-- Senate Passes Heavily Amended Senate Bill 284 To Set Decommissioning Rules For Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facilities

-- 6th Oil/Natural Gas Shock: Number Of New Natural Gas Wells Drilled In First Quarter Declined By Over 25% In PA Compared To 2021, 2020

-- New Ohio River Valley Institute Report Shows Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owner Diversified Energy Lacks Resources To Plug Wells, Including 22,507 Wells In PA

-- Washington & Jefferson College Center For Energy Policy & Management Hosts April 20 Webinar On Hydrogen: The Future Of Clean Energy?

-- U.S. EIA: Electric Generation From Renewables To Keep Rising Leading To A Decline In Natural Gas Generation; CO2 Emissions Keep Going Up 

[Posted: April 16, 2022]

4/18/2022