Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33)
Pennsylvanians are feeling the pinch like never before. Gas prices have skyrocketed, while families and businesses are struggling under the weight of soaring energy costs and crippling inflation, driven by years of disastrous economic policies. The economic pain is real – and it’s avoidable.
To make matters worse, the crisis in Ukraine has exposed the folly of America’s energy dependence on hostile nations. For years, Vladimir Putin has relied on revenue from oil sales to fund his war machine. And where does much of that money come from? The United States. In less than a year, we’ve gone from energy independence to importing nearly 600 million barrels of oil from Russia, funneling billions into Putin’s war chest. Germany alone spent more than $100 billion on Russian energy in 2021.
This dangerous reliance isn’t new. In 2016, during a brutal cold snap, Boston, Massachusetts turned to Russian energy instead of tapping into Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas. It’s an outrageous example of how flawed energy policies have held us back.
While this winter freeze occurred in the northeast United States, I was sent to the Baltics to develop a security plan for our allies in Northern Europe. I met with the region’s leaders and laid out our concerns on their over-reliance on Russian energy. Lithuania took swift action building an Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in the Baltic Sea and an LNG ship named “Independence” to potentially buy American LNG.
Pennsylvania has the resources to become an energy powerhouse and lead the charge toward true energy independence. With President Donald Trump’s swift action on expanding American energy, the commonwealth has the opportunity of a lifetime to unleash our LNG, oil and coal reserves to give us an epoch of unparalleled prosperity from which all our citizens would benefit.
Pennsylvania has untapped potential. Pennsylvania is second in the nation for natural gas reserves and third for coal production. But instead of tapping into this wealth, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s oppressive taxes, fees and regulations have driven energy companies to neighboring states like Ohio and West Virginia.
Additionally, Shapiro’s unreasonable decision to keep Pennsylvania in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has only made things worse. This “mini-Paris Climate Accord” will cost Pennsylvanians an estimated $461 million per year while delivering nothing other than high energy bills. Worse still, it’s expected to shut down plants and destroy jobs, further crippling our state’s economy.
Real people are suffering. Shapiro’s shortsighted energy policies hurt more than just the energy industry – they hurt everyday Pennsylvanians. Seniors on fixed incomes can’t afford the skyrocketing costs of heating their homes. Families are struggling to put gas in their cars. And rising transportation costs are driving up prices across the board, from groceries to household goods.
Enough is enough.
We need a bold plan for Pennsylvania energy. It’s time to take decisive action and unleash Pennsylvania’s full energy potential. Here’s how we do it:
- Enact a gas tax holiday. My proposed Senate bill would slash Pennsylvania’s outrageously high gas tax, providing immediate relief at the pump for hardworking families.
- End burdensome regulations. Shapiro must suspend the red tape and fees that are strangling our energy sector. Most importantly, Pennsylvania must withdraw from RGGI.
- Open more lands for drilling and fracking: The Marcellus Shale formation is one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, yet much of it remains untapped. We must incentivize investment in Pennsylvania’s energy industry and make it easier for companies to extract and deliver these resources.
- Export our liquified natural gas (LNG): I propose emergency measures be drawn up to build an LNG terminal outside of Philadelphia on the Delaware River and on Lake Erie in Erie. Pipelines from the LNG producing regions should be rapidly built along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-79 to feed these LNG terminals. This LNG can be used to fuel New England, Germany, Poland and our Baltic allies, enriching both Pennsylvanians and strengthening the geo-political situation. This would bring much needed wealth and prosperity to our commonwealth and relief to our citizens with cheaper energy costs.
By taking these steps, Pennsylvania can lead the way to American energy independence. We can free ourselves and our allies from reliance on Russian oil, strengthen our economy and provide a stable energy supply for our allies.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. America’s future – and the future of freedom around the world – depends on a bold, decisive energy strategy. Pennsylvania has the resources and the resolve to lead this charge. Let’s unleash our energy potential and ensure a brighter, more secure future for generations to come.
Sen. Doug Mastriano represents the 33rd Senatorial District, covering all of Adams and Franklin counties.