Today, the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Chairman Josh Kail, held a hearing in Harrisburg to address the uncertainties surrounding Pennsylvania’s electricity grid. The session, titled “Fighting to Keep the Lights On in PA,” included testimony from Stephen Bennett, senior manager of regulatory and legislative affairs at PJM.
PJM, which supplies electricity to over 65 million people across 13 states and Washington D.C., expressed concerns about reliability due to growing electricity demand. The latest capacity auction conducted by PJM indicated a significant rise in capacity prices, reflecting increased demand coupled with reduced supply.
Chairman Kail highlighted potential challenges posed by proposed energy policies from Democrats. He suggested these policies could hinder the use of Pennsylvania’s abundant resources, leading to missed investment opportunities, job losses, and decreased environmental sustainability.
The natural gas and oil industry in Pennsylvania is significant, supporting 497,000 jobs and contributing $78.6 billion to the state economy. It also provides $335.2 million for wildlife conservation funding and is noted for its leadership in emissions reductions.
Kail emphasized the impact on consumers: “We’ve heard from all corners of the state that consumers cannot afford to pay their utility bills. That they now have to brace to live in the dark is absolutely ludicrous,” he stated. He advocated for utilizing Pennsylvania’s resources as a net-energy generator as a path forward.
