Harrisburg, PA – Following Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget address and proposal today, Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) president Jim Welty issued the following statement:
“Governor Shapiro correctly recognizes the importance of Pennsylvania energy to our economy and quality of life. In today’s budget address, the governor cited a litany of examples where Pennsylvania trails our neighbors in performance. Energy development – specifically natural gas and power generation – is a notable exception.
“To lead on energy requires our elected officials – representing more than 120,000 Pennsylvanians working across the natural gas industry – to embrace and support our sector’s outsized contributions to our Commonwealth. Leadership also requires advancing policies that encourage responsible domestic natural gas production and use, which is overwhelmingly supported by Pennsylvania voters.
“While we appreciate a renewed focus on permitting and regulatory reform, proposals such as PRESS and PACER would undercut the broad-based benefits of Pennsylvania natural gas. Imposing new energy taxes and electricity mandates that intentionally sideline natural gas not only impedes our ability to attract job-creating capital investment, but it drives up energy costs for consumers while threatening power reliability by exacerbating an already fragile electric grid.
“The MSC and its members stand ready to work with the governor and the General Assembly to advance common sense policies that position Pennsylvania as an American and global energy leader.”
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