Much-needed Pa. energy plan budget casualty (GOP opposition, short OpEd, more)

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/NEWS04/707100315

Republicans in Harrisburg may have succeeded in forcing Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell to set aside a key component of the 2007-08 budget that would have helped Pennsylvania move into a more energy-secure future.

The GOP has saved electricity rate-payers about 45 cents a month. But those rate-payers won't reap the benefit of energy savings and other advantages that the proposed surcharge would have produced.

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Pennsylvania Back to Work Without Renewable Energy Fund

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2007/2007-07-09-09.asp

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The pact addresses some of Rendell's energy and transportation initiatives but will not impose the surcharge on electricity use the governor had sought, said Senator Vince Fumo, ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.

The governor wanted a legislated $5.40 annual surcharge on residential electric bills to support an $850 million fund for alternative and renewable energy.

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State Senate Republicans blocked the governor's Energy Independence Strategy that he promised would "help our families and businesses cut their electricity bills, conserve energy, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and bring new economic development opportunities to the state."

"And all it will cost the average household is the price of about five cups of coffee a year," the governor said July 2.

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