Luzerne Times

SALEM TOWNSHIP—At a hearing titled “Balancing Your Budget and Thermostat: Consumer Focused Energy Policy,” hosted by Rep. Mike Cabell and the House Republican Policy Committee, key stakeholders discussed ways to ensure affordable and reliable energy for Pennsylvania consumers.

Michael Butler, executive director of the Consumer Energy Alliance mid-Atlantic, emphasized the importance of utilizing Pennsylvania's energy resources, stating, "We need to focus on continuing to use the great resources we have in Pennsylvania and maintain the strong position of a net energy exporter."

Jack Monahon, general manager of operations at Caithness Energy, highlighted the significant contributions of Pennsylvania's natural gas and oil industry, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributing billions to the state economy. He pointed out that Pennsylvania is the second-largest net supplier of total energy to other states after Texas.

Dr. Frank Polidora, Butler Township supervisor, expressed concerns about Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed policies, stating that they could burden the energy sector and negatively impact consumers. Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Cabell emphasized the importance of protecting consumers and promoting energy affordability, stating, "Let’s cut the red tape, continue to cut emissions and protect Pennsylvanians’ wallets."

Chairman Josh Kail echoed the sentiment, stating, "The world is a better place with Pennsylvania energy," and warning against the potential harms of the Democrats' energy policies. He criticized these policies for lacking environmental benefits while posing risks to consumers, manufacturers, national security, and the environment.

The hearing aimed to address the challenges of rising energy costs and explore solutions to ensure that Pennsylvania consumers have access to affordable and reliable energy. For those interested in watching the complete hearing, a link is provided for access.

The discussions at the hearing underscored the importance of balancing energy affordability with consumer-focused policies to benefit Pennsylvania residents and the state's economy.