Energy
Energizing Federalism: Defending Pennsylvania from Anti-Energy Policies
Summary The Commonwealth Foundation joins several energy policy groups in two coalition letters opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest power plant rule and the PROVE IT Act.
Read More: Energizing Federalism: Defending Pennsylvania from Anti-Energy PoliciesPennsylvania is the birthplace of the modern energy industry and a pivotal global energy supplier. American energy independence and global energy market security rely on Pennsylvanian energy. Today’s hyper-polarized politics and environmental radicalism too often mislead Pennsylvanians by presenting them with false choices for our energy future. It does not have to be this way.
Pennsylvania can have a bright, market-driven energy future where:
- Energy is reliable and affordable
- Commonsense management and stewardship protect the environment
- Pennsylvanians are free to innovate and address energy and environmental challenges responsibly
- Pennsylvania’s families and businesses benefit from its abundance of natural resources
- Pennsylvania leads the way to secure American energy independence and dominance in the global marketplace
Energy
Op-Ed: The natural gas severance tax is not a good idea
If Pennsylvania government wants more revenue, it should drop continual attempts to increase taxes and regulations and instead nurture widespread prosperity.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: The natural gas severance tax is not a good ideaEnergy
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Seek to Block Entry to Multi-State Climate Compact
Pennsylvania lawmakers have reloaded legislation from last year that would prohibit the state’s governor from imposing carbon taxes in combination with new climate change regulations without the approval of the…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Seek to Block Entry to Multi-State Climate CompactEnergy
Climate Change Initiative Would Raise Costs Without Environmental Benefits, Critics Say
If Pennsylvania joins a multistate climate change agreement that restricts carbon dioxide emissions, energy prices will increase and jobs will be lost in response to new regulatory…
Commentary
Read More: Climate Change Initiative Would Raise Costs Without Environmental Benefits, Critics SayEnergy
Energy Shows Why Regulatory Reform is Key
Right now in Pennsylvania —the second-largest energy-producing state behind Texas— Governor Wolf is using executive action to attempt to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This interstate…
Commentary
Read More: Energy Shows Why Regulatory Reform is KeyEnergy
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Governor’s Climate Regulations Draw Bipartisan Opposition as Hearings Begin
The Wolf administration’s own estimates reportedly show that the tax from selling allowances would generate $2.36 billion over the next decade, which energy consumers would pay through their…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Governor’s Climate Regulations Draw Bipartisan Opposition as Hearings BeginEnergy
Op-Ed: Was fracking to blame for Pa. Democrats’ “faceplant”?
Biden’s fossil fuel flip-flop may have saved him, but fellow Democrats took the brunt of energy voters’ ire.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Was fracking to blame for Pa. Democrats’ “faceplant”?Energy
Op-Ed: Drilling and Fracking Equal Jobs. Does Biden Understand That?
In the past decade, fracking enabled drillers to reach the gas trapped in that shale quickly and cheaply, creating tens of thousands of jobs in the shale and pipeline service industries alone.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Drilling and Fracking Equal Jobs. Does Biden Understand That?Energy
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania should keep fracking and oil as pro-energy policies
The Keystone State is also the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas, third-largest producer of coal, 16th-largest producer of crude oil, and third-largest producer of electricity in general, according to…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania should keep fracking and oil as pro-energy policiesEnergy
Lawmakers Fight Wolf on Cap and Trade Plan
Governor Wolf is determined to pull Pennsylvania into a multi-state compact that restricts carbon dioxide emissions and raises the cost of power. But thanks to the natural gas revolution Pennsylvania…
Commentary
Read More: Lawmakers Fight Wolf on Cap and Trade PlanEnergy
Pa. Can Energize Its Energy Sector by Cutting Red Tape—Not with Industry Subsidies
This week the state legislature passed House Bill 732. The bill—designed to exempt volunteer service providers from a 1 percent realty transfer tax— now offers tax credits to the…
Memo
Read More: Pa. Can Energize Its Energy Sector by Cutting Red Tape—Not with Industry SubsidiesEnergy
5 Ways Carbon Taxes Harm PA
When Governor Wolf announced his decision to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) through executive order this past October, he also sent the message that PA is closed for business. For businesses operating…
Commentary
Read More: 5 Ways Carbon Taxes Harm PAEnergy
Climate Change
For decades state government has imposed subsidies, increased regulation and raised energy costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts have largely failed to make an impact. On the other…
Memo
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Pa.’s Climate Action Plan: Crippling Costs for Zero Benefits
Let’s recognize how our climate is improving and bolster further innovation to reduce pollution without reducing incomes or infringing the freedoms of Pennsylvanians.
Commentary
Read More: Pa.’s Climate Action Plan: Crippling Costs for Zero BenefitsEnergy
The State of Natural Gas in Pa.
Pennsylvania’s regulatory and tax environment is stunting job growth and deterring investment. A decade after the Marcellus Shale boom, lawmakers are still debating how to tax the industry instead of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The State of Natural Gas in Pa.Energy
Lessons from Fracking’s Borderlines
New Yorkers shouldn’t have to eye secession to tap the riches beneath their feet. Pennsylvanians shouldn’t have to worry that taxes and regulations will drive away opportunity and raise energy…
Commentary
Read More: Lessons from Fracking’s BorderlinesEnergy
Philly Should Reject Mayor’s Tax-a-Cola Plan
Mayor Kenney’s soda tax would nearly double the average cost of a 12-pack of soda – hitting hardest those who least can afford it, not to mention small retailers, bottlers,…
Commentary
Read More: Philly Should Reject Mayor’s Tax-a-Cola PlanEnergy
Governor Wolf’s Natural Gas Tax Proposal
Governor Wolf continues to press for a natural gas severance tax despite ongoing layoffs and potential bankruptcies in the natural gas industry.
Fact Sheet
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Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Extraction Tax
Gov. Tom Wolf proposed a new severance tax on natural gas extraction, which he claims will generate more than $1 billion annually for public schools. The proposal fails to consider…
Memo
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Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, Progress
Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to 17 business advocacy groups opposing his proposed severance tax on natural gas, accusing them of siding “with corporate special interests who simply…
Commentary
Read More: Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, ProgressEnergy
Natural Gas Severance Tax
A severance tax must be considered in light of the state’s total tax structure. Pennsylvania taxes the natural gas industry in many ways that don’t exist in other drilling states.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Natural Gas Severance TaxEnergy
Shale Gas Fuels Pennsylvania Job Growth
It’s indisputable that where there is Marcellus shale drilling there has been robust economic growth. Over the past six years, Pennsylvania counties with Marcellus shale drilling led the state in…
Commentary
Read More: Shale Gas Fuels Pennsylvania Job Growth