Firing energy-efficient darts at the governor
If anyone expected Pennsylvania lawmakers to adopt a more concillatory tone yesterday when the state Legislature reconvened for the first time since July’s budget dustup … well, let’s just say battle lines have already been drawn on one major issue.
House Republicans came out guns blazing during a half-hour press conference laying out their energy plan. And York County’s own Stan Saylor was at the head of the pack.
After briefly applauding Gov. Ed Rendell for tackling such a challenging issue, Saylor went on to explain why he thinks the governor’s plan for tackling the issue is so wrong-headed. House colleagues Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango/Butler) chimed in.
You’ll recall the governor’s energy plan called for a new surcharge on everyone’s electricity bills, a surcharge his office said would cost the average residential customer about $6 per year. That revenue would be used to cover the cost of an $850 million bond issue. That money to be spent providing rebates for residents who buy energy-efficient appliances and to provide grants and incentives to businesses that conserve energy or develop alternative energy sources.
House Republicans’ assessment of his plan:
“The governor’s proposal would punish all Pennsylvanians — the moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers who are already trying to lower their energy bills by conserving energy — with a new tax on their electric bill,” said Saylor, predicting the governor’s surcharge would really wind up costing residents between $20 and $100 per year and would be even more costly to businesses.
“We’re already facing higher energy bills. Why would we want to increase our own?” asked Hutchinson, referring in part to expiring rate caps that are expected to send residents’ electricty bills spiraling in the years to come.
“The governor wants $850 million to spend now so your kids and grandkids can pay it back,” added Turzai.
Saylor even took a poke at Rendell’s apparent need for speed in a followup news release, noting the governor admitted instructing the state police chauffeurs who drive his vehicle not to exceed 80 mph. That’s 15 mph above the state’s highest posted speed limit and a speed at which vehicles are less fuel efficient.
“Telling others to conserve energy while you’re burning it left and right is pure hypocrisy,” Saylor said in the release.
Between firing darts at the governor, the three Republicans outlined the House GOP energy plan, formulated by a task force on which Saylor served as chairman. In part, it would:
* Offer sales tax exemptions — not rebates — on the purchase of energy-efficient appliances. The sales tax exemption would also be available on home improvements made with energy efficiency in mind, such as the installation of solar panels or energy-saving windows.
* Offer tax credits — not grants — for businesses that take efforts to conserve energy or develop alternative sources of energy.
* Require an energy audit of state-owned buildings and mandate a 10 percent energy reduction by 2010. More hybrid vehicles would be added to the state’s fleet.
The key, according to Saylor: No new taxes, no new borrowing at a time when “Pennsylvania taxpayers are running on empty.”
And so the battle lines have been drawn.
The governor makes his pitch on energy on Monday.