ENERGY

The PA Chamber supports balanced policies that allow producers and suppliers from all energy sectors located in the Commonwealth to compete, and enable businesses to secure a reliable supply of energy that is produced and delivered on a competitively-priced basis.

A Balanced, Sustainable Energy Future Requires Pro-Growth Approaches to Energy

In the fall of 2019, Gov. Tom Wolf directed the PA Department of Environmental Protection to develop a regulation to enter Pennsylvania into a regional cap-and-trade program for power plants, known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. For its part, the PA Chamber has advocated that policy continue to ensure Pennsylvania remains the most significant power producer on the grid, the top state for electricity exports, and a welcome place for industry and manufacturing to grow. With the final regulation falling short of the PA Chamber’s recommendations, including maintaining an inclusive approach to sustainability, the PA Chamber remains active and engaged in the debate happening under the dome this year.

Defeating Regressive Energy Taxes

Over the past decade, Pennsylvania’s leadership in natural gas production has resulted in lower gas and utility energy bills for families and businesses, along with significant improvements in air quality and dramatic reductions in CO2 emissions. For the past eight years, the PA Chamber has successfully spearheaded the Stop New Energy Taxes Coalition in opposition to misguided plans to impose regressive energy taxes on the state’s economy. For the first time since taking office, Gov. Tom Wolf chose not to include an additional tax on the natural gas industry as part of the 2022-23 budget proposal, a marked change.

ICYMI: PA Chamber Op-Ed Highlights Advantages of Natural Gas

May 21, 2024

In case you missed it … RealClearPennsylvania today published a new op-ed from PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein discussing the transformative impact natural gas has had on Pennsylvania’s economy and its role in making the Commonwealth a global energy leader. In the op-ed, Bernstein outlines how natural gas provides reliable and affordable energy […]

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PA Chamber Reacts to Shapiro’s Energy Plan

March 18, 2024

In a press conference last Wednesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two new energy proposals his administration hopes to pass through the state legislature. The first is a state-specific cap-and-invest program known as the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER), which the governor framed as an alternative to Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative […]

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PA Chamber Statement on Gov. Shapiro’s New Energy Proposals

March 13, 2024 | Michael Plummer

HARRISBURG – Today, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein released the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s announcement of two new energy programs for Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) and the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS): “We all share the goals of protecting our […]

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PA Chamber Leads Energy Coalition Letter to Gov. Shapiro, Lawmakers

February 14, 2024 | Michael Plummer

HARRISBURG – The Stop New Energy Taxes coalition, led by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and comprising prominent industry associations across Pennsylvania, today issued a joint letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, calling for legislative action to ensure a robust and reliable energy supply for the Commonwealth’s […]

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PA Chamber: Commonwealth Court Decision Overturning RGGI a Win for Consumers and An Opportunity for Long-Term Solutions

November 01, 2023 | Michael Plummer

HARRISBURG – Luke Bernstein, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, issued the following statement in response to today’s Commonwealth Court decision that found former Gov. Tom Wolf’s attempt to enter Pennsylvania into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to be unconstitutional: “We agree with the Commonwealth Court’s conclusion that joining RGGI […]

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Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson Delivers Energy Update

September 18, 2023

Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) was the featured speaker during a virtual meeting last Tuesday in which he shared new developments in federal energy policy with PA Chamber members and industry stakeholders. In his update, Congressman Thompson, who chairs the powerful House Agriculture Committee, underscored energy’s significance in shaping the state’s past, present, and future. […]

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Philly Event Highlights Bipartisan Calls for Permitting Reform

September 11, 2023

This past Friday, PA Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Alex Halper participated in a panel discussion in Philadelphia focused on permitting reform. The organization Building a Better America hosted the panel discussion at the Sprinklerfitter’s Local 692 union hall in northeast Philadelphia.  Joining Halper on the panel were State Senator Frank Farry (R-Bucks), State […]

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Permitting reform critical in cementing PA’s energy leadership

August 22, 2023

Note: This editorial originally appeared in Broad + Liberty. World energy markets remain in turmoil as Russia’s horrific invasion of Ukraine invited sanctions and a long-needed rethink of global energy policy. Markets around the world have strongly signaled they are willing to pay a premium for American energy, having seen how Putin has used proceeds […]

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PA Chamber Testifies Before U.S. Senate Panel on Environmental Regulations

June 15, 2023 | Michael Plummer

HARRISBURG – Today, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry Director of Government Affairs Kevin Sunday testified before the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight. The hearing, entitled “The Impacts of Plastics Production and Disposal on Environmental Justice Communities,” explored the balance […]

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PA Chamber Testifies on Workforce Challenges in Rural Communities

May 26, 2023 | Michael Plummer

  HARRISBURG – This week, PA Chamber Director of Government Affairs Kevin Sunday testified on the ongoing workforce challenges that employers face in the Commonwealth’s rural communities during a public hearing at Penn College hosted by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. The hearing brought together leaders from Pennsylvania’s energy and healthcare sectors as well as […]

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On the Hill: PA Chamber Marks Progress on Top Legislative Priorities

May 22, 2023

The PA Chamber has made major policy strides this session on behalf of our broad-based membership and has identified three legislative areas as top priorities for the current session: tax reform, permitting reform, and workforce development. We know that Act 53 of 2022 brought us decades’ worth of tax reforms, including reducing our state’s corporate […]

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Senate Answers Call on Permitting Reform; Tax Bills Clear Committee

May 15, 2023

Last week, the Pennsylvania Senate voted to pass a comprehensive permitting reform bill that addresses several of the business community’s top concerns regarding the current process, while two committees advanced a suite of proposals to improve Pennsylvania’s tax competitiveness and enhance the permit appeals process, respectively. Here are the highlights from last week’s session:   […]

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PA Chamber Statement on Senate Passage of S.B. 350

May 10, 2023 | Michael Plummer

HARRISBURG – Today, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein released the following statement after the Pennsylvania Senate voted to pass S.B. 350, legislation that would enact meaningful and necessary reforms to the state’s permitting system: “We have a generational opportunity within our grasp to advance a significant permitting reform bill that would lead […]

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PA Chamber Leads Coalition in Calling on Lawmakers to Enact Permitting Reform

May 08, 2023 | Michael Plummer

HARRISBURG – Today, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry spearheaded a group of 68 leading business associations and local chambers of commerce in sending a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and members of the Pennsylvania state legislature, urging them to take decisive action in reforming the state’s “dysfunctional and unpredictable permitting system.” The coalition, which represents several […]

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A Look Ahead for the Week of May 8, 2023

May 08, 2023

This week, committees in the Pennsylvania Senate will meet to consider proposals that the PA Chamber has identified as top priorities for the current legislative session.   Permitting reform On Monday, the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Operations will consider S.B. 350 – legislation introduced by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York, that would address several of the […]

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ICYMI: PA Chamber Co-Hosts Tele-Town Hall with U.S. Chamber Leaders

October 05, 2022

Discussion highlighted state and federal efforts to combat inflation and rising costs   In case you missed it, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark and Executive Vice President Neil Bradley, and thousands of concerned citizens from across Pennsylvania discussed key economic […]

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To Combat Inflation, PA Produced Energy Provides a Welcomed Answer

March 22, 2022

Russia’s war on Ukraine is leading to sharp gas price spikes and rising inflationary costs and the global pandemic continues to create economic uncertainty. It is indeed a tumultuous time globally, and small businesses are especially prone to the financial impacts. The good news is that we aren’t powerless against these economic challenges. In fact, […]

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BARR: It’s Time U.S. Energy Policy Stops Empowering Russia

February 25, 2022 | Delaware Valley Journal
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PA Chamber Applauds Passage Of Legislation Preserving Energy Choice For Businesses And Consumers

January 26, 2022 | Leslie Gervasio

HARRISBURG – PA Chamber President Gene Barr lauded the passage of House Bill 1947 today, which passed with a bipartisan vote of 118-83 and preserves the right of an individual or business to be served by the utility and energy source of their choosing, whether it be natural gas, solar, wind, geothermal, or another option.   “Pennsylvania has a […]

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PA Chamber Issues Statement On PennEast Pipeline Cancellation

September 27, 2021 | Leslie Gervasio

HARRISBURG – PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement regarding the cancellation of the PennEast project, a major regional energy infrastructure project:   “Activists are cheering upon the recent news that the sponsors of the PennEast project, a more than $1 billion investment that would have delivered Pennsylvania-produced natural gas into markets […]

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To build back better, make FERC boring again

September 15, 2021 | Utility Dive
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House ERE Committee Votes on RGGI Disapproval Resolution

August 02, 2021

On July 28, the House Environmental Resources and Energy (ERE) Committee convened to vote on sending a letter expressing disapproval of the Wolf administration’s proposed regulation joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional cap-and-trade program for power plants. The letter will be sent to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC), who along with […]

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Environmental Quality Board Approves Regional Cap-and-Trade Electricity Regulation

July 19, 2021

On July 13, by a 15-4 vote, the Environmental Quality Board advanced the final-form version of a regulation that would join Pennsylvania with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. The final regulation will next be evaluated by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) and the Office of Attorney General, and the standing environmental committees […]

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PA Chamber: Anti-Growth Policies on State, Federal Levels Driving Investment Out of Pennsylvania

May 04, 2021 | Tricia Harris

HARRISBURG – PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement in regards to Pennsylvania’s burdensome regulatory environment and uncompetitive corporate tax climate driving investment out of the state: “Last week President Joe Biden mused, ‘there’s no reason why wind turbine blades can’t be built in Pittsburgh.’ But it turns out there is […]

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PA Chamber Statement on Delaware River Basin Commission Vote to Ban Natural Gas Drilling

February 25, 2021 | Tricia Harris

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement in response to the Delaware River Basin Commission’s vote to ban natural gas drilling: “We are extremely disappointed to see Governor Wolf vote in lock step with the other states in the Delaware River Basin Commission to ban […]

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Natural gas provides materials to fight COVID-19

February 25, 2021 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Agency bans fracking in Delaware River Basin

February 25, 2021 | Pennsylvania Business Report
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PA Chamber: Policies That Increase Cost of Doing Business in PA Will Slow Economic Recovery

January 28, 2021 | Tricia Harris

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s announced priorities for the 2021-22 legislative session – which include enacting an additional tax on the energy industry and a government mandated wage increase: “There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has created numerous challenges for […]

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Abundant, reliable, and competitively priced energy is a critically important component of a healthy business economy. Robust production, generation, transmission, retail, and delivery segments in the energy sector are essential for the Commonwealth’s economic development efforts and its ability to retain existing employers.

Pennsylvania has long been an energy exporter due to our historic strengths in traditional sources such as coal, oil, nuclear, and natural gas, and is positioned for future leadership in renewable, zerocarbon, and distributed energy resources. These resources are key products of our Commonwealth, and the production of competitively priced energy helps fuel our economy and generates employment in the Commonwealth. Energy costs can be a significant portion of any business ‘operation’s expenses, and in certain energy-intensive industries, energy costs account for more than 50 percent of total operating costs. Competitive markets have been demonstrated to have delivered significant reductions in both energy costs and emissions.

The Pennsylvania Chamber supports balanced policies that allow producers and suppliers from all energy sectors located in our Commonwealth to compete. More broadly, the state’s energy policies must enable business to secure a reliable supply of energy produced and delivered on a competitively priced basis. This can be best accomplished by the following:

• Promoting competitive energy-related regulatory requirements, tax policy and a fair and predictable permitting structure that are no more restrictive than federal law, unless there is a clear, broadly accepted, scientifically-based approach that considers conditions particular to Pennsylvania and provides a cost-effective benefit to the state.

• Encouraging greater use of domestic natural resources while using appropriate, reasonable, cost-effective, and currently achievable environmental controls based on sound and verifiable science for energy development, power generation, and delivery to market.

• Supporting policy that encourages and rewards voluntary environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, including cost-effective energy efficiency.

• Supporting policy that provides for the increased delivery of Pennsylvania energy and natural resources to markets within the Commonwealth, neighboring states, and internationally.

• Avoiding price controls on any energy sources.

• Allowing the marketplace to select the most appropriate energy sources and avoiding governmental actions that select, force, or subsidize particular energy sources.

• Reducing regulatory and other governmental hurdles to the utilization of all energy sources and to the implementation of energy infrastructure while ensuring appropriate environmental protection.

Revised by the Policy Committee. Approved by the Board of Directors on November 18, 2022