(File Photo of State Representative Roman Kozak)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Chippewa Township, PA) Testifiers told lawmakers Wednesday during a House Republican Policy Committee hearing that Pennsylvania can lower electricity costs, strengthen grid reliability and attract new investment by expanding energy production, removing regulatory barriers and allowing energy sources to compete in the marketplace.  

The hearing was hosted by State Representative Roman Kozak at Bolland Machine in Chippewa Township and it was called “Keeping the Lights On and Costs Down: Securing Pennsylvania’s Energy Future.” 

According to Kozak, government mandates that favor certain energy sources have increased costs without adequately addressing Pennsylvania’s need for dependable baseload power.  

The Commonwealth’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act requires that electric utilities obtain a portion of their electricity from government-designated sources.  

Kozak is proposing to replace this law with an Affordable Energy Portfolio Standards Act as part of the “Lights On, Costs Down” energy package from House Republicans.