State senators point to ENGOs as gas bills set to rise

Three Pennsylvania state senators warned October 21 that home heating bills in the US this winter could increase by as much as 54% compared to a year ago and blamed “ill-conceived” actions by environmental groups as a main reason for the potential increases.

“The greatest threat to the affordable, clean, natural gas energy is not a lack of natural resources, a shortage of capable workers, or an unwillingness to adhere to environmental regulations,” senator Camera Bartolotta said at a Harrisburg, PA news conference. “No. The real threat comes from lawmakers and environmental extremists who do not understand or appreciate how important the oil and gas industry is in our daily lives. This is not just an issue of affordability. As we saw in Texas last winter, access to energy can mean life or death.”

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She was joined at the event by senators Gene Yaw and John Yudichak and trade union executives Jim Gallagher and Matt Toomey. Together, they pointed out that actions in states surrounding Pennsylvania – home to much of the massive Marcellus shale gas field and other natural gas sources in the Appalachia basin – are contributing to a looming availability shortage for natural gas consumers throughout the US Northeast.

“The actions of surrounding states have stalled energy infrastructure development that is vital to creating new jobs and new markets for Pennsylvania natural gas and related liquids, not only here at home, but across the northeast and world,” Yaw said. “The lack of pipeline development is also contributing to the large price disparity that is putting Pennsylvania gas producers at a disadvantage, while aiding our global natural gas competitors.”

Pennsylvania’s neighbouring states, he said, “thumb their nose at Pennsylvania gas” while embracing natural gas purchased from eastern Europe.

“I encourage other states to take a realistic look at where their energy needs stand and the implications of the choices they are making,” he said. “Sooner or later, the lights will go out due to unrealistic energy policy.”