Senator Robbins Responds to Governor's Address

Cites need to fund "scientifically sound" not "feel Good" projects

Senator Bob Robbins issued the following statement today in response to Governor Ed Rendell's address during the General Assembly's Special Session on Energy.

"I think we're all concerned about the energy costs of tomorrow and of course where our energy is going to come from, and with the war on terrorism, and our dependence on foreign oil. We have to work harder and get incentives out there to create new renewable resources. "I am, however, concerned that when you start legislatively setting specific percentages sometimes that becomes very hard to do in the real world.

"The other issue did not hear him (Governor Rendell) address is coal-to-diesel. That is extremely important. In Pennsylvania alone, we could provide enough energy for the country for many years to come. That technology is out there. Clean diesel, bio-diesel, ethanol, those are all resources that are expanding and we need to move that ball forward

"But, I am also concerned that we don't fund with his fuel security initiative maybe some 'feel good' issues. I asked a power company how many acres it would take to build a windmill field to take care of Erie County and they said somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 acres, so where are we going to clear cut that forest?

"I do want ethanol and bio-diesel, but I also want coal-to-diesel, a resource that Pennsylvania has more so than anywhere else in the world. We need to address it all and do so carefully. We have to make sure we fund projects that are scientifically sound and not just 'feel good' projects."

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322