WILLIAMS FLATTERED BY ATTENTION TO HER ENERGY-SAVING IDEA

HARRISBURG, SEPT. 19 – Several years ago, state Sen. Connie Williams introduced legislation to provide a state sales tax exemption on the purchase of common household appliances that carry an energy efficient rating. This week, Williams thanked the House Republicans for deciding the legislation was important enough to include in their energy proposal.

Williams re-introduced her Green Sales Tax Holiday legislation at the beginning of the 2007-08 Legislative Session (S.B. 37) and this week is circulating for co-sponsorship a similar bill that would be included in the legislative initiatives introduced during the Special Session on Energy that began this week. According to Williams colleagues from both sides of the aisle have signed-on to co-sponsor the bill.

"They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I am flattered that the Republicans recognized the value of my bill," Williams said. "Until now, my legislation has never moved further than committee level, although it was embraced by the Governor more than two years ago."

Williams' bill would create a sales tax holiday on some commonly used appliances, including clothes washers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, freezers, room air conditions, ceiling fans, programmable thermostats and ventilating fans. The tax holiday would also apply to energy-saving building materials, such as windows, insulation and storm doors. Under the proposal, consumers would be able to purchase Energy Star appliances during two sales tax-free weeks annually through 2008-09.

"This is only one part of what I hope will be a comprehensive energy-saving plan that will come out of the special session," Williams said. "Pennsylvania has an opportunity to do something meaningful and lasting to help consumers and businesses save on their energy bills, while taking steps to preserve the environment.

"No matter what solutions the legislature devises, it is going to take a partnership with consumers and changing the way everyone thinks about energy consumption to really make a difference. Every person must be part of the solution – from finding ways to use less energy during peak hours, to turning off lights, more closely monitoring the energy used to heat and cool our homes and offices, and looking at ways to increase the use of public transportation."

For more information on the Governor's Energy Independence Strategy, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us/energindependent/site/.