SENATOR COSTA TO INTRODUCE CAP AND INVEST BILL FOR PENNSYLVANIA

 

(Harrisburg, Pa.) — Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today introduced Senate Bill 15, creating a “Cap and Invest” program for the state’s electric power sector, along with the support of 17 cosponsors.

“The federal government has abdicated responsibility on climate change — states, local governments, private companies and citizens must take the lead in enacting equitable policies to mitigate the growing impacts of climate change,” said Senator Costa.

The legislation will instruct the Environmental Quality Board to reduce carbon pollution emissions from the electric power sector – the largest source of emissions in Pennsylvania – by at least 90% by 2040 relative to baseline emissions. The Board can develop a market-based carbon pollution limit, which ensures a technology neutral, flexible approach that incentivizes the most cost-effective emission reductions and generates revenue for investments in economic development, workforce training, energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy affordability.

The legislation also enables the Board to adopt mechanisms that facilitate deployment of zero—emissions technologies, measures that provide for ongoing assessment of emission sources in the electric power sector that adversely affect disadvantaged communities and for reductions in harmful air pollution affecting communities, protect against emissions leakage across state borders, and  to join one or more multijurisdictional programs for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (aka RGGI).

“Pennsylvania has already made important strides towards reducing greenhouse gases, and mayors from Pennsylvania’s two largest cities have already committed to reducing carbon emissions,” said Senator Costa. “But more work is needed to achieve emission reductions and to make sure Pennsylvania isn’t left behind in the burgeoning growth of clean energy technologies and jobs.”

Further, the bill provides that revenue generated from the program be directed towards programs that promote clean air, mitigate utility bill impacts and protect low-income consumers, increase energy efficiency, and assist workers and communities impacted by the closure of power plants or mines.

Trump floats election ‘delay’ amid claims of voting fraud
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is for the first time floating a “delay” to November’s presidential election. And he’s making unsubstantiated allegations that increased mail-in voting will result in fraud. The dates of federal elections are set by Congress and the Constitution makes no provisions for a delay to the January 20, 2021 presidential inauguration. On Thursday morning, Trump tweets: “With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history.” There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud through mail-in voting, even in states with all-mail votes.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (H.R. 7575), a bipartisan bill that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works mission areas for the next two years, which include projects on: navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction, shoreline protection and ecosystem restoration.  A member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) supported the legislation which passed with broad bipartisan support.

In April, Lamb co-led a bipartisan letter with Representative Brian Babin (TX-36) signed by 78 Members, including many from Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation, advocating for an adjustment to the cost-share for inland navigation projects, which was included in H.R. 7575.  This policy change lays the groundwork for faster repairs to western Pennsylvania’s critical locks and dams.  Three inland navigation facilities in the Upper Ohio Navigation Project – the Emsworth, Dashields, and the Montgomery Locks and Dams – are at risk of catastrophic failure.  WRDA 2020 is vital to completing these long-overdue repairs and modernization efforts.

“This legislation is a major investment in jobs and infrastructure for our region.  We can finally rebuild our aging locks and dams system to protect and grow thousands of energy and manufacturing jobs in western PA,” said Lamb.  “This bill also ensures that we are better prepared for increased flooding and protects clean drinking water.”

In an additional letter to Committee leadership, Lamb fought for provisions which were included in H.R. 7575, to raise the funding authorization threshold for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address widespread problems specifically in rural and small communities pertaining to inadequate wastewater treatment, contaminated drinking water, and insufficient water supply.  The bill also allows for Beaver County to access these funds for the first time.

Click here to learn more about the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (H.R. 7575) and visit Lamb’s website to see him speak on the House floor in support of the legislation.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eight people face federal charges over alleged actions amid racial justice protests in Pittsburgh two months ago. Jurors indicted people on charges that include throwing objects at officers or into a police vehicle, vandalizing a police vehicle, burning a police vehicle and hitting police horses. The incidents occurred on May 30, as large protests were going on after the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.  Public safety officials said multiple officers were hurt and three journalists attacked or injured, although the injuries were not deemed to be serious. Damage in downtown Pittsburgh was described as extensive.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Beaver County school districts are within a month or so of their usual return to education for students and administrators alike, but how usual is it going to be?

At the regularly scheduled work session on July 29, the Board of Commissioners spoke about these re-openings amidst the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, and how these administrators are trying to nail down a fluid situation.

“I personally think that the state will come out and say ‘you’re only going to school 50% of the time’ or ‘50% of the students’…whatever it may be,” said Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp. “I think they’re going to get some direction from the state.”

This theory was reiterated by Solicitor Garen Fedeles, who stated that “the state’s mandating them to have a plan in place.” However, Fedeles added that “those plans can be amended at any time by the board.”

Commissioners Tony Amadio & Jack Manning returned to the Courthouse after a few weeks of self-administered quarantine.

House speakers get reprieve from criminal history plaques
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The portraits of three former Pennsylvania House speakers who went to prison on corruption-related charges have received a reprieve of sorts. In one of his last acts in office, Mike Turzai, a former speaker, ordered the removal of the plaques describing the former speakers’ criminal histories. The plaques were hung in 2014. Pennlive.com reports that House Clerk Dave Reddecliff said Turzai requested the plaques’ removal before he resigned in June. Turzai declined comment to Pennlive. On the Senate side,  criminal history plaque continues to hang beneath the portrait of Robert J. Mellow, a former Senate president pro tempore.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

At the Commissioners’ work session on Wednesday, Beaver County Controller Maria Longo brought forth a plan for the Board to consider in regards to their insurance plan.

The current plan that the Courthouse is using, according to Longo, has been largely unused for the last several years, and that the County could have saved $1.5 million by covering their own insurance expenses over the last seven years.

“Looking back [at the numbers]–the risk is low, not that many people use it, and we buy this every year,” Longo commented. “So I would like for you to consider that and the savings for the county as we move forward.”

The Commissioners provided no further comment on the considerations at the work session.