PRINTER'S NO. 1433
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
316
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SCHREIBER, V. BROWN, McNEILL, D. COSTA, THOMAS,
SCHLOSSBERG, BARRAR, READSHAW, COHEN, GIBBONS, ROZZI, MURT,
IRVIN AND DAVIS, MAY 5, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
MAY 5, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a study on the issue of expanding the availability of
natural gas to Pennsylvania homes, businesses, nonprofit
organizations and units of government in the most cost-
effective manner.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth dramatically increased its natural
gas production in recent years; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, this Commonwealth was the second largest
producer of natural gas in the United States and one of the
largest natural gas producers in the world; and
WHEREAS, The exploration, production, distribution and use of
natural gas in this Commonwealth has stimulated economic
development, produced environmental benefits and has both
preserved and created employment in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the substantial positive economic
impact to this Commonwealth, there are geographic limitations on
the availability of natural gas in this Commonwealth for use by
homes, businesses, nonprofit organizations and units of
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government; and
WHEREAS, Current constraints on availability of natural gas
service in some areas of this Commonwealth limit opportunities
for economic development, job creation, environmental
improvement and prosperity in those areas and thereby preclude
all residents of this Commonwealth from sharing in the benefits
created by the exploration, production, distribution and use of
Pennsylvania natural gas; and
WHEREAS, In order to fully capture the benefits of the
exploration, production, distribution and use of natural gas
across this Commonwealth, it is necessary to identify
infrastructure needs with respect to distribution to homes,
businesses, nonprofit organizations and units of government that
do not currently have convenient access to adequate natural gas
service; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth can best facilitate the expansion
of natural gas service to homes, businesses, nonprofit
organizations and units of government by using its limited
resources to support natural gas capacity installation,
enhancement and conversion projects which offer the most
benefits to this Commonwealth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study on
the issue of expanding the availability of natural gas to
Pennsylvania homes, businesses, nonprofit organizations and
units of government in the most cost-effective manner; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the study by the Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee regarding service availability in this
Commonwealth include the following:
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(1) current and anticipated natural gas production in
this Commonwealth through the year 2030;
(2) current and anticipated demand for natural gas in
this Commonwealth through the year 2030 among users who
presently have access to natural gas or who have identified
projects which will result in increased demand during such
time period;
(3) current and anticipated demand for Pennsylvania-
produced natural gas by current and prospective users outside
of this Commonwealth through the year 2030;
(4) opportunities for new or increased use of natural
gas by homes, businesses, nonprofit organizations and units
of government through the year 2030 if new natural gas
service or increased supply are made available;
(5) identification of gaps in the availability of
adequate natural gas service and supply for such current and
anticipated users, irrespective of whether the gaps are the
result of the absence of any natural gas service, the
insufficiency of service capacity for the users or other
barriers, inclusive of the identification of the need for
particular types of infrastructure;
(6) review of programs in other states which facilitate
or financially support the development of new or expanded
natural gas use or capacity to assess their possible
applicability in this Commonwealth;
(7) identification, analysis and recommendation of
policy options with respect to allocation of Commonwealth
support for new or expanded natural gas use or capacity;
(8) recommendation of standards to identify
opportunities for the introduction or expansion of natural
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gas service or supply to Pennsylvania homes, businesses,
nonprofit organizations and units of government which offer
the most favorable cost-benefit ratios and which ratios could
therefore be one of the bases used for determination of how
to allocate limited economic development resources;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and
recommendations to the House of Representatives no later than
December 31, 2015.
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