Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 22, 2014 09:42 AM
From:	Senator Gene Yaw
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Pennsylvania Natural Gas Expansion and Development Initiative

In the near future, I plan to re-introduce the Pennsylvania Natural Gas Expansion and Development Initiative, which will facilitate the expansion, distribution and use of low-cost, energy efficient, Pennsylvania-produced natural gas. Being able to fully utilize this commodity will reduce costs and be environmentally beneficial across the Commonwealth.

We have an abundant natural resource beneath us, which can be used to help consumers lower their energy heating costs. There is also widespread interest in seeing locally produced natural gas used locally to benefit every Pennsylvanian.

Document #1

Introduced as SB214

Description:	In the near future, I plan to re-introduce the Natural Gas Consumer Access Act (SB 738 of last session). The legislation will: Encourage the use of natural gas to assure that natural gas energy is accessible to Pennsylvanians; Require each natural gas distribution utility to submit a distribution system extension and expansion plan to the PUC for review to ensure each utility is continuing to expand access throughout Pennsylvania. Require the Public Utility Commission to develop rules to produce an orderly system for reviewing current levels of natural gas service and to allow for the orderly expansion of natural gas service to areas not currently served; Requires the natural gas distribution utilities to provide residential, commercial and industrial customers with a reasonable period of time, which shall not be less than 10 years, for the customer to reimburse the utility for the customer contribution and commission-authorized costs. Requires the natural gas distribution utility to provide a bona fide request program in areas where it does not provide service and to provide for the priority of projects where there is a large aggregation of residential, commercial or industrial entities, We have an abundant natural resource beneath us, which can be used to help consumers lower their energy heating costs. There is also widespread interest in seeing locally produced natural gas used locally to benefit every Pennsylvanian.

Description:

In the near future, I plan to re-introduce the Natural Gas Consumer Access Act (SB 738 of last session). The legislation will:

Encourage the use of natural gas to assure that natural gas energy is accessible to Pennsylvanians;

Require each natural gas distribution utility to submit a distribution system extension and expansion plan to the PUC for review to ensure each utility is continuing to expand access throughout Pennsylvania.

Require the Public Utility Commission to develop rules to produce an orderly system for reviewing current levels of natural gas service and to allow for the orderly expansion of natural gas service to areas not currently served;

Requires the natural gas distribution utilities to provide residential, commercial and industrial customers with a reasonable period of time, which shall not be less than 10 years, for the customer to reimburse the utility for the customer contribution and commission-authorized costs.

Requires the natural gas distribution utility to provide a bona fide request program in areas where it does not provide service and to provide for the priority of projects where there is a large aggregation of residential, commercial or industrial entities,

We have an abundant natural resource beneath us, which can be used to help consumers lower their energy heating costs. There is also widespread interest in seeing locally produced natural gas used locally to benefit every Pennsylvanian.

Document #2

Introduced as SB215

Description:	In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation (SB 739 of last session), which will assist schools, hospitals, businesses and homeowners across our state in making this conversion. This legislation amends the Alternative Energy Investment Act to allocate $20 million for grants to schools, hospitals and small businesses to obtain access to natural gas. We have an abundant natural resource beneath us, which can be used to help consumers lower their energy heating costs. There is also widespread interest in seeing locally produced natural gas used locally to benefit every Pennsylvanian.