CITIZEN POWER
Public Policy Research Education and Advocacy
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E Contact: David Hughes
November 21,
2004
412/421-6072 Ext. 213
THE NEW PA ‘CLEAN’ ENERGY ACT IS THE FIRST IN
THE NATION TO INCLUDE FOSSIL FUELS AND TO PROMOTE DIRTY ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
MORE THAN CLEAN SOURCES, SAYS CITIZEN POWER.
PITTSBURGH, November
21/PRNewswire—The newly enacted “Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards
Act”(AEPSA) bears little resemblance to what started out as a legislative
initiative to promote clean and renewable energy in Pennsylvania, according to
Citizen Power, a regional energy advocacy organization. Citizen Power authored the first renewable
energy bill (SB 962) introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in November
2003 by Senator Jim Ferlo (D, Pittsburgh).
On
the positive side, the Act could increase the use of solar power and energy
efficiency technologies. However, many of the claims for increased development
of renewable energy sources being made by proponents of the AEPSA are highly
questionable because: (1) the requirements for renewable energy have been made
optional by allowing the state Public Utility Commission to lower the standard
for renewables in our energy mix if companies fail to develop renewables as
required, and (2), large amounts of cheap, existing power (like hydroelectric
dams) will fill up the requirements, leaving little room for new wind power.
Pennsylvania is the 16th state to pass this
kind of legislation but it is the first state to include fossil fuels in an
electricity generation portfolio standard.
“A series of amendments tipped the scale heavily to the polluting side, and it
is probable that the amount of new renewable energy sources being
developed will be less than expected,” said David Hughes, executive director of
Citizen Power.
Instead of a
Renewable Portfolio Standard like what was enacted in other states, the AERPS
favors the use of dirty, non-renewable sources, including:
·
new coal
plants
·
existing
trash incinerators
·
burning
waste coal and natural gas from coal mines
·
burning gas
from digestion of factory farm waste
·
burning
unfiltered, toxic landfill gases
·
burning
crops, animal wastes, trees and paper mill wastes
“There was a
lot of opposition to this legislation from the environmental community, but
this
is what you get when back room deals are made,” Hughes said. “We kept hearing: ‘this is a coal state’ and ‘you have to compromise’, but there’s a point when the line is crossed and more harm than good is being done. The fact that the polluters didn’t fight this legislation is telling. They got what they wanted and the public lost,” Hughes concluded.
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