(Pennsylvania) Energy policy for state picks up steam Lawmakers near final bargaining

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http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19387250&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416046&rfi=6

Energy policy for state picks up steam Lawmakers near final bargaining

BY ROBERT SWIFT
HARRISBURG BUREAU CHIEF
03/13/2008

HARRISBURG — With a year’s worth of debate behind them, state lawmakers are nearing the point where they can start final bargaining on a new energy policy for Pennsylvania.

Gov. Ed Rendell launched the debate in early 2007 when he proposed a program to reduce Pennsylvania’s reliance on foreign oil.

The Democratic-controlled House has now passed two key bills to provide state funding to develop alternate energy sources and offer incentives and mandates to both utilities and ratepayers to conserve electricity use in advance of the mandatory expiration of electric rate caps in 2010 and 2011. The Republican-controlled Senate has passed a funding bill and still has to take up a conservation bill.

The two chambers differ on what should be the program’s total cost, the implementation time and some spending priorities, but they agree too on some key issues.

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