The House Republican Energy Task Force this week held a hearing co-chaired by Rep. Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery) at Montgomery County Community College on energy policy ahead of the special Energy Session set to start September 17.

“Pennsylvania faces a potential energy crisis," Rep. Mensch said. “Rates are going through the roof, and it’s becoming more and more difficult for people to pay their utility bills. This is an important issue that has an impact on everyone."

The House Republican Energy Task Force, an arm of the House Republican Policy Committee, is working to develop a tax-free energy policy to lower energy prices and meet the Commonwealth’s energy needs, now and in the future.

The roundtable discussion was split into two segments. The first segment focused on electric energy issues. The second focused on alternative energy, bio-based fuels and energy efficiency issues.

House Republicans are working to develop an energy plan that they say would not raise taxes or incur new state debt. The House Republican Energy Task Force plans to announce its alternative proposal before the start of a special session.

“We must have input and cooperation from many diverse interests, and this hearing provided that," Rep. Mensch said. “Today we were given valuable information that hopefully will put us on the right track toward producing an economically and environmentally responsible energy policy."

The testifiers agreed that Pennsylvania energy customers are likely to experience “price shock" as electricity rate caps expire over the next few years. The task force is focusing on ways to increase homegrown energy production to push energy prices down, create local jobs and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources.

“Given the growth in demand for electricity over the next 20 years, we will need to either increase generation capacity and/or reduce demand by an equivalent of 50 percent over that time frame," said Jan Freeman, vice president of public affairs for Exelon Generation.

The task force will continue to hold roundtable discussions throughout the state on this issue. For more information, please go to the House Republican Policy Committee webpage.

8/31/2007