Renewable Energy

55 Million Reasons (and Counting) Why PA Does Not Have a Severance Tax

Posted by Jan Jarrett on June 29, 2015 5:44 pm

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Ten years after the first gas driller bored into the Marcellus Shale formation, the commonwealth remains the only major gas-producing state without a severance tax. Legislation to enact a severance tax has been introduced into the General Assembly every year since 2009. And every year, the General Assembly has failed to get a severance tax bill to the governor’s desk. The Republican budget for 2015-16 does not include a severance tax.

Environment is a Winner in Wolf’s Budget

Posted by Jan Jarrett on March 3, 2015 5:12 pm

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Environmental protection and conservation are winners in Governor Wolf’s proposed state budget. His proposal to levy a 5 percent severance tax on natural gas extraction would generate almost $1 billion in new revenue a year, a portion of which would go to a number of important environmental programs.

The governor would use $40 million a year from the severance tax to finance a $225 million clean energy bond that would be distributed in the following way:

Third and State Recap: Ed Rendell at PBPC's 5th Anniversary, Promoting Renewable Energy in PA & Lottery Privatization

Posted by Third and State on November 30, 2012 7:42 pm

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Over the past two weeks, we blogged about the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center’s 5th Anniversary, how Pennsylvania can be better positioned to capitalize on renewable energy, a proposal to privatize the state’s lottery and the October jobs numbers. Oh, and did we mention, former Governor Ed Rendell in a wig?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

On the state budget, Sharon Ward reflected on five years of research and advocacy demystifying state budget and tax policies with the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. Chris Lilienthal wrote that at the Center’s 5th Anniversary Luncheon on Friday, former Governor Ed Rendell had a little fun with Sharon when he debuted a new look (yes, a wig is involved).
On renewable energy, Stephen Herzenberg explained how Pennsylvania could position itself to be a national leader on wind and solar energy and what that could do for the commonwealth’s economy.
On jobs and the economy, Mark Price blogged about the state’s October jobs report and why now would be a good time to invest in fixing infrastructure.
On privatization, Mark Price asked (tongue in cheek) what could go wrong with a plan to privatize the Pennsylvania lottery in light of news that the state received only one bid for the job.
Finally, Mark Price had a roundup of what awaits state and federal lawmakers in the coming weeks and in 2013.

More blog posts next week. Keep us bookmarked and join the conversation!

Imagine...PA Chamber and Conservative Administration LEAD Major New PA Renewable Energy Policy

Posted by Stephen Herzenberg on November 30, 2012 9:08 am

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Renewable Energy

“This package will send a strong signal to investors that the government is serious about providing firms with the certainty they need to invest in affordable, secure, low-carbon energy,” said Gene Barr, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the state's main business group, in a statement responding to a new measure that would increase the amount of electricity from renewable energy to 30% by 2020, up from 11% today,

OK, it wasn't actually Gene Barr. It was his British counterpart, John Cridland, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, in a story last week about a strong new push for renewable energy by Britain's Conservative-led coalition government (the Liberal Party is the junior partner in Britiain's coalition government).

Third and State