Issues
Energy for today, tomorrow and the future
Energy for today, tomorrow and the future
Energy. It runs our homes, our businesses, our televisions, lights, heating and cooling, IPods, computers, cell phones and cars. And the need for energy in Pennsylvania-just like the rest of the country-is growing.
The good news is that Pennsylvania has abundant energy resources available to keep our homes comfortable, and our businesses and jobs thriving and growing. Whether it's wind, solar, bio-fuels from plants, natural gas, oil, nuclear or coal, all of these are useful sources for today's large demands for energy.
Pennsylvanians should be free to decide
While some people want the government to step in and decide which energy sources should be favored, people and businesses in Pennsylvania should be free to decide which they prefer to use. This free market approach would not arbitrarily pick winners and losers, but provide the greatest amount of energy at the lowest cost possible to everyone.
Coal: our abundant energy resource
Pennsylvania's coal reserves are significant. In fact, at the current rate of production, Pennsylvania would have enough coal to last more than 300 years! It has been estimated that the energy content of the Commonwealth's coal exceeds the energy content of the petroleum that lies under Saudi Arabia. And with advances in technology, the environmental performance of coal has been significantly improved and continues to improve.
Nuclear
Pennsylvania is the nation's second largest producer of nuclear energy, and gets more than one-third of its electricity from this carbon-free source. Nuclear energy supplies an important part of the energy mix that helps meet our energy needs and keeps costs low. And since there are no sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide emissions, these plants help Pennsylvania meet its commitment to cleaner air.
Oil and natural gas
These fuels are-and will continue to be for some time-a fundamental part of our everyday life: heating our homes and businesses and transporting us and our good and services. For comfort and a thriving economy access to both on-shore and off-shore promising sites will continue to be important.
Energy for today, tomorrow and the future
To meet the high demand for energy, and its critically important component of a healthy business economy, Pennsylvanians needs abundant, reasonably priced energy. Reliable, available energy sources equal jobs.
Regulatory and other governmental hurdles must be reduced to allow for the use of traditional sources, as well as new alternative energy technologies, while ensuring environmental protection. Keeping all sources of energy in the mix will guarantee that the energy needed for every day life is available, while serving as an engine for the continued well-being of Pennsylvania's economy and residents.
