Lycoming News

State Senator Gene Yaw has reintroduced a bill aimed at ensuring Pennsylvania residents have access to various energy options. Senate Bill 311, known as "Energy Choice," seeks to prevent municipal entities from banning specific fuel sources for appliances and heating in homes or businesses. The proposed legislation is designed to be neutral regarding fuel types.

"It's simply about consumer choice and keeping energy costs low," Yaw stated. "When municipal governments start picking winners and losers, then we have a serious problem. Pennsylvania residents have a myriad of energy options to choose from and we should keep it that way."

Yaw cited the example of Berkeley, California, which was the first city in the United States to prohibit natural gas hookups in new construction projects as part of an effort to reduce fossil fuel usage.

"Many of my constituents still use wood to heat their homes," Yaw added. "Are we going to stop them next?"

In the previous legislative session, this measure received bipartisan support in the Senate but did not advance for a vote by the Local Government Committee in the House of Representatives. Currently, 26 states have enacted similar energy choice legislation.

For further information on state-related news, constituents are encouraged to visit Senator Yaw’s website or follow him on social media platforms.