Dear
The 2012-13 state budget process is seriously out of whack. State assistance to basic and higher education and public health programs are being cut. Environmental protection jobs are being cut. Our state forests are being leased to fill the Commonwealth's budget gap. In 2010, $265 million in state forest oil and gas leasing revenue went into balancing the budget. Enough is enough!
Yet, the Corbett's administration seems to believe Pennsylvania taxpayers can afford an additional $1.65 billion tax break to build an "ethane cracker" refinery for fossil fuel giant Shell Oil Company in Beaver County. The Marcellus Gas Law (Act 13) already provided many incentives for the natural gas industry, including the Shell site as a Keystone Opportunity Zone, exempting it for a decade from all state and local taxes. Now taxpayers are being asked to subsidize this venture for 25 years.
Meanwhile, the Solar Jobs bill (HB1580), co-sponsored by a majority of state representatives, which would increase the number of solar energy credits utilities from Pennsylvania sources, is being blocked by Republican House leaders. This could result in PA's solar jobs moving to other states. We need them here!
We must remind our legislators that a "balanced" budget requires strong environmental protection as well as funding basic education, higher education and public health and safety programs. Please take action now.
Jeff Schmidt, Director
Sierra Club PA Chapter