Pennsylvania’s role in the ever-changing energy market and finding the best mix of both traditional and alternative energy resources for the state was the focus of a House Republican Policy Committee hearing this week in Berwick.

“As a proponent of finding renewable, domestic and environmentally-friendly energy sources, I am thrilled this hearing was held in my district," said Rep. Karen Boback (R-Columbia). “The technology of producing energy is changing very quickly, and I believe the most appropriate approach to move the state toward energy independence is to employ the diverse resources we have here in Pennsylvania. This is not just about the environment, but it is also about national security and our economy, and it is vitally important that we work toward a solution sooner rather than later."

The hearing, co-chaired by Boback, and Reps. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) and Stan Saylor (R-York), was held at the Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant. The committee heard testimony from experts in the nuclear and alternative energy fields.

House Republicans have held several public hearings and roundtable discussions to explore energy generation from both traditional and renewable resources in Pennsylvania.

“To ensure Pennsylvania’s future as a leader in the energy industry, we cannot ignore the importance of our traditional resources. We can look at new, innovative renewable sources, while still developing our existing energy resources – coal, natural gas and nuclear – in an environmentally sound manner," said Rep. Hutchinson, Republican chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Doug Biden, president of Electric Power Generation Association, discussed the important role that nuclear power plays in the state’s current energy generation. (A copy of Biden’s testimony is available online.)

“Clearly our fleet of nuclear plants is among the workhorses of our state economy, compromising only 21 percent of our installed generation capacity, but providing an impressive 36 percent of total electric generation," said Biden. “The Commonwealth is ranked second among the states in production to nuclear energy, second only to Illinois. However, Pennsylvania still ranks first in the net export of electricity – exporting nearly 70 billion kilowatt-hours in 2006. This fact is vitally relevant to an energy policy debate concerned about the economic effects of energy imports."

Biden went on to say that Pennsylvania’s high rankings in the field of electricity exporting can be attributed to the Commonwealth’s production of coal and nuclear power, and emphasized that state energy policy should not discriminate against development of power plants that utilize these two critical energy sources.

Jack Brenizer, chair of the nuclear engineering program at Penn State University, also discussed the future of nuclear energy in Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania is competitive with other nations,” Brenizer said. “But the nuclear power industry is truly an international endeavor. Pennsylvania is fortunate to have a vendor, Westinghouse, and a major Naval Reactors facility, Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, as well as five nuclear sites all located within our state."

He went on to say nuclear power will continue to grow both nationally and internationally and Pennsylvania should invest more in this industry.

Members also heard testimony from experts in the field of renewable energy, including wind, switchgrass, wood pellets and energy from sugar beets.

“As we explore potential alternative energy sources, we are finding that our Commonwealth is rich with innovative entrepreneurs who are finding new, economical and inventive ways to develop renewable energy. These ground-breaking ideas, coupled with the environmentally-friendly development of our traditional resources, will help move the state towards true energy independence." said Rep. Saylor, chairman of the House Republican Energy Task Force, an arm of the House Republican Policy Committee.

The House Republican Energy Task Force unveiled its solution to the state’s emerging energy problem, “Energy for PA," last month. The plan calls for moving Pennsylvania towards energy independence, without raising taxes or incurring more debt.

10/12/2007