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PA Republican Senator To Introduce Bill Suspending State Taxes On Natural Gas Producers; Cut DEP Permit Fees; End Drilling Moratorium On DCNR Lands; Exempt Coal-Fired Power Plants From EPA Regulations
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On January 27, Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin) announced he would be reintroducing the PA Energy Independence Act to suspend state taxes on natural gas producers, cut DEP permit fees, end the drilling moratorium on DCNR lands, exempt coal-fired power plants from EPA regulations and make other changes. "In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation to stabilize energy costs for Pennsylvanians and protect against economic and international volatility in the long term," said Sen. Mastriano. "With our abundant resources, Pennsylvania should be largely immune to energy cost volatility. Cumbersome taxes, regulations, and restrictions are handicapping the potential of our energy sector. "Many companies simply choose to invest in more energy friendly states like Texas and West Virginia. "To make matters worse, Pennsylvania's insistence to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) which is projected to raise energy consumer costs by $2 billion over nine years and lead to the closure of at least five power plants. "Natural gas and coal currently account for over 60% of Pennsylvania’s electricity generation. "I am proposing the “PA Energy Independence Act” to utilize our unique natural resources and finally cement Pennsylvania as a premier energy powerhouse," said Sen. Mastriano. He said the legislation would-- Natural Gas and Drilling -- Immediate suspension of the Corporate Net Income Tax and Personal Income Tax for natural gas producers -- Reduce DEP’s gas permit fees to pre-2020 levels (200% cut from current fees) [permit fees fund DEP’s Oil & Gas Regulation Program] -- End the moratorium on new leases on state lands by directing DCNR to initiate an approval process for new leasing opportunities Coal-Powered Plants -- Exempt Pennsylvania from plant-closing EPA regulations such as the Wastewater Rule and the Cross State Air Pollution Rule -- Intrastate Coal/Natural Gas Use Provision: establish a provision to clearly state that any environmental regulation of coal and natural gas that is extracted and used in Pennsylvania can only be exclusively regulated by the Commonwealth, not by the Federal government. Regulations and Permits -- Require a report from DEP to the General Assembly on all current rules and regulations affecting the natural gas and coal industries and the respective economic impact -- Require legislative approval for any new regulations affecting the natural gas and coal industries -- Improve transparency in the permit review process and expedite approvals Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative -- Immediate suspension of Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI Click Here for a copy of Sen. Mastriano's announcement. Sen. Mastriano introduced similar legislation in 2022 as Senate Bill 1219 that never got out of Committee. Resource Link: -- PA Senate Republicans Reintroduce Bills To Eliminate State Appeals Of Pipeline Permits; Limit Grounds For Appeal Of Any DEP Permits; Punish Communities For Protecting Their Constituents Against Shale Gas Drilling Impacts [PaEN] PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards: -- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 1 [PaEN] -- DEP Posted 89 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 1 PA Bulletin [PaEN] Related Articles This Week - Natural Gas: -- Range Resources And MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges To The 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Facility Setback Ordinance Adopted By Cecil Township, Washington County [PaEN] -- Conventional Oil & Gas Industry Compliance With 2022 DEP Methane Reduction Regulation Put On Hold Pending Outcome Of Litigation [PaEN] -- Rep. Vitali Introduces Bill To Restore DEP Authority To Increase Conventional Oil & Gas Well Plugging Bonds To Prevent Hundreds Of New Well Abandonments A Year [PaEN] -- PA Republican Senator To Introduce Bill Suspending State Taxes On Natural Gas Producers; Cut DEP Permit Fees; End Drilling Moratorium On DCNR Lands; Exempt Coal-Fired Power Plants From EPA Regulations [PaEN] -- Gov. Shapiro Proposes ‘Lightning’ Energy Plan To Increase & Diversify Energy Generation; Reduce Climate Changing Pollution; Lower Energy Costs; Create Jobs [PaEN] -- Gov. Shapiro Reaches Agreement With PJM To Prevent Unnecessary Price Hikes And Save Consumers Over $21 Billion On Utility Bills [PaEN] -- PA Senate Republican Leader: ‘Every Consumer Of Electricity In This Commonwealth Is Going To Pay More;’ ‘What You’re Going To Face Is Going To Be Really Unpleasant’ [PaEN] -- Republicans On PA Senate Environmental Committee Report Out Bills To Eliminate Carbon Pollution Reduction Program Covering Power Plants, Establish Independent Energy Office [PaEN] -- Inquirer: President Wants US To Be ‘Leading’ Producer Of Non-Fuel Minerals; Here’s How PA Could Help; Rare Earth Elements Could Be More Important Than Expansion Of Fracking [PDF of Article] NewsClips: -- The Energy Age Blog: Range Resources & MarkWest Liberty Midstream File Legal Challenges Against 2,500 Foot Shale Gas Setback Ordinance In Cecil Twp., Washington County -- The Energy Age Blog: EQT Should Plug These Abandoned Conventional Wells In Peters Twp., Washington County Before Fracking From Mingo Well Pad -- PennLive Guest Essay: Natural Gas Industry Operations [Wastewater Pipelines] Are Strongly Regulated In PA - By Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition [Shale Gas Wastewater Pipelines are NOT regulated by the PUC for construction, operations and safety. Read more here. ] -- Inquirer: President Wants US To Be ‘Leading’ Producer Of Non-Fuel Minerals; Here’s How PA Could Help; Rare Earth Elements Could Be More Important Than Expansion Of Fracking [PDF of Article] -- NYT: Oil, Gas Companies Embrace New President, But Not ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ [No Plans To Increase Production Unless Prices Rise Significantly] -- US EIA: Electric Power Sector Has Driven Rising PA Natural Gas Consumption Since 2013 -- UGI Gas Division Filed A Request With PUC To Increase Residential Gas Rates By 10.8% -- Scranton Times: UGI Seeking To Raise Natural Gas Rates 10.8% For Residential Customers -- Utility Dive: Calpine To Sell 2 PA Gas Power Plants To Avoid Market Power Concerns From Constellation Merger -- Reuters: Diversified Energy To Buy Permian Basin Oil & Gas Producer Maverick In $1.3 Billion Deal [Diversified Specializes In Buying Old Wells] -- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Producers Likely To Gain Asian Market Share [China Buying 50% More US LNG, Cap Price At $10 - Currently $3.89] -- Bloomberg: Europe’s Gas Traders Now Fear Summer More Than Winter -- Reuters: Venture Global Given FERC OK To Start Up Another Louisiana LNG Gas Export Plant -- Reuters: US EIA Sees 7% Higher US Wholesale Power Prices In 2025; Residential Increase Of 2% -- Wall Street Journal: New Federal Administration Memo Orders Agencies To Broadly Pause All Federal Grants, Loans, Financial Assistance Programs Pending Review [PDF of Article] -- AP: Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks New Administration’s Freeze On Federal Grants And Loans -- E&ENews/Politico: EPA Freezes Federal Solar For All Program Funding Until Further Notice [PA Due To Receive $156 Million] -- Financial Times: President Wiped Out Dozens Of Biden’s Climate Initiatives In First-Week Blitz -- Inquirer: Escalating Demand And Diminished Supply Has Spiked PUC Concern About The Future Ability Of State’s Electric Grid -- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Transformational Investments In Renewables, Energy Efficiency Are Designed To Lower Energy Costs For Pennsylvania Consumers - By Molly Parzen, Conservation Voters Of PA [Posted: January 28, 2025] |
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2/3/2025 |
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