Southeastern suburban Democrats encourage the General Assembly to act on state’s energy plan

MEDIA, July 5 – Democratic state representatives from several southeastern suburban counties held a rally today to call on House and Senate Republicans from the region to embrace the governor’s Energy Independence Strategy, a package of bills whose passage is crucial for Pennsylvania’s economic and environmental future.

Delaware County state Rep. Greg Vitali joined several other House and Senate Democrats on the steps of the Delaware County Courthouse in Media to call on the Senate and House to pass the plan as part of the 2007-08 budget package.

 Vitali said three of the bills that make up the energy package have already passed the House and are awaiting Senate action. House Democratic leaders want to pass and send to the Senate the final piece of the package this week, he said.

 “We cannot wait any longer,” Vitali said. “The legislation that would enact the energy independence strategy was introduced five months ago and the House has passed several of the key components, yet leadership in the Senate has delayed its progress. This cannot wait until the fall. We need to claim our energy independence now.”

 The Energy Independence Strategy would authorize an $850 million bond issue to fund programs to move Pennsylvania away from its reliance on fossil fuels toward cleaner and renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biofuels. The package, funded by a 45-cent-per-month surcharge on residential customers’ energy bills – about $5.40 a year for the average household – would save consumers about $10 billion over the next 10 years in energy costs and create thousands of jobs, boosting the state’s alternative energy industry.

 “None of the Republican House members or senators from any of the southeastern suburban counties have spoken out publicly in support of the energy plan, even though the majority of residents in Pennsylvania are in favor of this plan,” Vitali said. “Susquehanna polling, which is a predominantly conservative polling agency, has found that 74 percent of southeastern Pennsylvanians are in favor of the 45-cent surcharge because they know the long-term savings to our economy and environment would be substantial.”

 Rep. Bryan Lentz, also of Delaware County, said he supports the energy plan because as a veteran, he is committed to reducing America’s dependence on Middle East oil.

“When I talk to veterans across this Commonwealth, they tell me that severing our ties to Middle Eastern oil is as important as any other for our nation’s protection, including the War on Terror,” Lentz said. “We have an opportunity to produce energy right here in our own backyard and limit our reliance on overseas energy.

“During World War II, we had government savings bonds and rations,” he added. “Today, we have the Energy Independence Strategy as a way each American can help protect our military.”

Montgomery County state Rep. Daylin Leach said the lack of action on the energy strategy signifies that Republicans in both the House and Senate are satisfied with the status quo.

“We were elected to make difficult decisions and to act on issues of substance,” Leach said. “But many of our Republican colleagues are just unwilling to take the steps necessary to provide Pennsylvania with a meaningful energy policy. It is an important issue that needs immediate attention.”

Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Chester, who is chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, said Pennsylvania is being held hostage by rising energy costs.

“We just celebrated Independence Day on July 4,” Kirkland said. “I say we proclaim July Fifth as Energy Independence Day. Gas prices are too high. Utility bills are increasing. We need to set ourselves free from the influence of foreign oil.”

Also in attendance were Reps. Barbara McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester, and Rick Taylor, D-Montgomery, as well as state Sen. Connie Williams, D-Montgomery/Delaware. Williams said that she supports the energy strategy and is doing all she can to urge her colleagues to support it as well.

 “One raindrop is insignificant, but many raindrops fill an ocean,” she said. “If every person does something, even a little bit, we can make a huge difference on Earth. We need to come together and let our policymakers know that we are passionate about this energy plan.”

 Vitali said tying the Energy Independence Strategy to passage of the state budget is the only way to ensure Republicans who control the Senate act on the plan. Otherwise, he said, “there is no telling if and when this important plan will ever be passed.

 “Residents of southeastern Pennsylvania should be contacting their state representatives and state senators right now to urge passage of this important energy package as part of the state budget package,” he concluded.