Rendell pushes energy proposal

Republican legislators plan to challenge the governor on the cost of subsidies.

HARRISBURG (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell on Monday called America’s reliance on foreign oil a “prescription for disaster” and said his proposed energy plan will take advantage of the fast-growing alternative energy sector and avert skyrocketing electricity bills.

Rendell’s address to a joint session of the House and Senate was timed to the week-old special legislative session on energy that he has called in hopes of making electricity in Pennsylvania cleaner and cheaper.

“In a very real sense, what we do in this special session, the choices we make, will define us as a commonwealth for years to come,” the Democrat said.

Republican legislators say they agree with the idea of becoming energy-independent and softening the blow of rising electricity bills as decade-old rate caps on electricity expire in the next few years.

But they say they will challenge Rendell on the cost of subsidies for the alternative and clean energy industries, as well as who should benefit and how to pay for it.

Budget impasse

GOP members have also bristled at the governor’s assertions that his alternative-fuels plan can help wean America off foreign oil and keep it out of wars when energy interests are at stake.

“If anybody believes that, I’ve got an oil well to sell them in Punxsutawney,” said Rep. Sam Smith, R-Jefferson.

Since he introduced his energy plan in February, Rendell has pressured the Legislature for action, making the subject a key issue in July’s budget impasse that ended after the one-day furlough of about 24,000 state employees.

An energy policy for the state is expected to dominate the fall legislative session.

Rendell’s proposal for an $850 million fund to encourage the homegrown production and use of cleaner energy and technology, as well as electricity conservation, is competing with two similar, but less expensive, proposals by the House and Senate GOP.