From the Sierra Club (http://pennsylvania.sierraclub.org/):
The gas industry is again showing how powerful its influence is in Harrisburg.
Industry-friendly legislators are pushing Senate Bill 275 and House Bill 1947 which would take power away from local governments by prohibiting them from restricting utility connections based on the type of energy provided. The Pennsylvania Senate recently passed SB 275, and a vote in the House could come soon.
Go to https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/Pennsylvania?actionId=AR0344525 to tell your PA representative: Pennsylvania cities and towns should be able to make local decisions to ban new gas connections and address the climate crisis.
In response to some California cities banning gas utility connections in new construction as a way to fight climate disruption, the gas industry and their lobbyists are working to ensure state legislatures across the country pass laws prohibiting these local bans. Just this year, similar bills have been introduced in twenty states, including Pennsylvania.
In cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, buildings make up 11 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
To meet our climate goals, we need to decarbonize our economy and should not be investing in any new gas infrastructure when building electrification is safer, healthier, less expensive, and more energy efficient.
P.S. Don’t forget to leave a personal message for your state lawmaker asking them to oppose this attempt to limit local authority and vote NO on these two problematic bills.
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