Fighting to Keep the Lights On in PA
| By Rep. Torren Ecker (R-Adams/Cumberland) |
What if you flipped the switch and the lights did not come on? As vice chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, we recently dove into the issue of the looming energy crisis the nation and Pennsylvania are facing.
A testifier from PJM, which supplies electricity to more than 65 million people, noted energy suppliers are seeing increased demand for electricity. Already, the company has seen significant load increases and projections show that it will continue in the coming years. What that means for you is expected rate hikes in as little as a year, or much worse, a time when the electric lights, heat and stove won’t come on.
This is the result of a shift toward wind and solar power generation, which are not meeting demand. While I agree clean energy should be part of the production portfolio, it cannot, and data shows it will not be the core ingredient in making electricity. A clear example was the recent agreement by Micosoft and Constellation Energy to restart Three Mile Island and keep it open for decades to come. Bringing the now named Crane Clean Energy Center will produce more than 800 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the grid.
There are other options too. About 40% of the country’s energy comes from natural gas and the United States is the largest exporter of natural gas in the world. Lucky for us, we have vast supplies of natural gas under our feet. We have a real opportunity to make Pennsylvania a keystone, this time by getting more or our precious natural gas to more markets.
Doing so would help energy companies meet the growing demands clean energy cannot keep up with. It would also spur on our economy through more family-sustaining jobs. Look no further than the Crane Clean Energy Center. A recent economic impact study found restarting the nuclear power plant will create 3,400 direct and indirect jobs. Imagine what the state-wide impact would be with more reliance on natural gas.
Consumers need and deserve reliable and affordable energy. That is what I, and fellow House Republicans, continue to fight for.
Representative Torren Ecker
193rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
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