Electricity competition benefits consumers…
Last Sunday, PennFuture President Jan Jarrett and Commonwealth Foundation President Matthew Brouillette penned a joint op-ed in The Harrisburg Patriot-News, explaining why a competitive electricity market will benefit consumers. For example, PPL's rates have been capped for nearly 14 years but impending competition is already bringing new companies into the market that will provide residential and business customers with lower rates than those offered by PPL.
…and the environment
On December 3, PennFuture will sponsor an important conference in Harrisburg that explores how competitive electricity markets can not only save consumers money, but also create and boost markets for clean renewable energy and energy savings programs and products. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger, and Nora Brownell, a former commissioner with both the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission lead the speakers list.
Visit our website for details on the agenda and registration. The conference is free, but space is limited and registration closes November 29.
Shh. It's a SILENT auction
Internationally acclaimed artist Sara Steele, who is having a one-woman show at Arts at 510 in Harrisburg, recently decided to dedicate a portion of the profits from every sale of "Green Butterfly" to PennFuture. She and Arts at 510 owner Susan Schreckengaust have donated the first print from the series of 175, framed, worth $475 for a silent auction with the entire proceeds to benefit PennFuture.
If you are in the Harrisburg area, stop at the gallery at 510 N. Third Street to bid on the piece. You can also call 717-724-0364 or email susan@artsat510.com to bid. You will also be able to bid on the print at PennFuture's Holiday Parties. The winner will be decided by the highest bid as of 8 p.m. on December 16. The current bid is $275 – a steal!
Clean energy funding announced
This week the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved over $23 million in funding for a wide range of clean energy projects across Pennsylvania. The projects range from $19.5 million for SunEdison's solar system in Carlisle to $33,000 to assist the Sisters of St. Joseph to purchase and install a geothermal system for their administration building in Erie County.
A familiar drill
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently decided a case from Oakmont, Allegheny County, on the scope of a local government's ability to regulate drilling under the Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Act. The court essentially concluded that municipalities could pass ordinances regulating the location of gas and oil drilling, but not how the drilling can take place.
This restriction probably isn't sitting too well with the multinational gas drilling companies aggressively combing the Marcellus Shale. And now it seems like the drillers want to tell the locals where to file their ordinances (little if any light makes it there). This week Representative Tim Solobay (D-Washington), co-chair of the House Oil and Gas Caucus, filed an amendment to Senator Gene Yaw's (R-Lycoming) Senate Bill 297 that would eliminate the ability of a municipality to regulate the location of the wells. PennFuture will oppose this amendment.
Enhancing public transit in Philly
One of the original 10 recommendations of the Next Great City coalition in Philadelphia was to make public transportation stops clean and safe. The Nutter Administration will soon seek proposal from vendors for a new street furniture program that will include providing and maintaining bus stops. Citizens who use Philadelphia's bus system or value the quality of the City of Brotherly Love's streetscapes are encouraged to take an on-line survey to guide the selection process.
Podcast of the Week: How are the 2010 elections like 1994?
This week's podcast was recorded when PennFuture's Tanya Dierolf caught our Post-Election Forum featured speaker, Dr. Christopher Borick, Director of the Institute of Public Opinion at Muhlenberg College's Political Science Department right after his presentation on Tuesday. Dr. Borick discussed what next year's results might look like, and whether the landscape is similar to the 1994 elections, when the Republicans took the House of Representatives under the leadership of Newt Gingrich.
Check out the schedule at PCN-TV to see Dr. Borick's entire presentation, and the legislative panel with Representative Eugene DePasquale (D-York), Senator David Argall (R-Schuylkill), Representative Bill Adolph (R-Delaware), and Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery), as well as the journalists panel of Pete DeCoursey of Capitolwire, Alex Roarty of Politics PA and Pennsylvania Legislative Services, Laura Vecsey of The Harrisburg Patriot-News and Tom Fitzgerald of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
PennFuture works every day to make a difference for Pennsylvania's environment and economy. Isn't it time to join us and make a difference yourself? Go to our secure website to join PennFuture, and make sure you sign up for our publications. And remember, you can make sure you don't miss any podcasts by subscribing to them through iTunes.
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