From PennFuture (http://www.pennfuture.org):
The state Senate has conducted first consideration on a bill that would limit and restrict local municipalities’ ability to choose for themselves what sources of energy should be available to local consumers.
Specifically, House Bill 1947 is nothing more than a solution in search of a problem that does not exist, and it is the product of powerful fracked gas groups that are pushing similar legislation successfully across the country.
Despite the fact that no municipalities in Pennsylvania have taken steps to ban gas utility hookups in new commercial and residential construction projects, a contingent of our state lawmakers are going to bat for the industry and are trying to take away the power of local municipalities to do just that.
This is not the first time we’ve seen this in Pennsylvania. In 2013, the Legislature attempted to limit local municipalities’ ability to regulate oil and gas development, a move that was struck down by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
While this bill purports to be energy neutral and non-discriminatory against any form of energy, it very clearly would give preferential treatment to the fracked gas industry by taking away the power of local officials to decide for themselves which energy sources should be available for residents.
Please contact your state senator today at https://pennfuture.salsalabs.org/hb1947senate/index.html
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