Sep. 30, 2021

HARRISBURG – Reps. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) and Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) issued the following statements regarding the cancelation of the PennEast Pipeline: 

Fritz:

“To say that I am extremely disappointed in the loss of this major investment opportunity is an understatement. This is our state’s second major revenue loss within the past year following U.S. Steel pulling its own project out of our Commonwealth. Pennsylvania is still recuperating from the pandemic, which inflicted significant economic and financial damage. This $1 billion project would have significantly aided in our continued recovery efforts and supplied a much-needed revenue boost to our state economy, not to mention the thousands of family-sustaining job opportunities it would have opened to Pennsylvanians trying to get back on their feet themselves. 

“This is not a win for our Commonwealth nor its residents – it is a devastating loss of opportunity. I have always maintained that environmental stewardship and economic development are not mutually exclusive. Many other states have found that balance. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania and some neighboring states allow fringe activist groups to hijack the debate. I very much look forward to a time when balance and reason are restored in our Commonwealth.” 

Pickett: 

“PennEast’s decision is a significant blow to the state and regional economies still struggling to recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic. The pipeline project and its related spinoff business opportunities would have provided a much-needed economic boost for years to come. In addition to the loss of thousands of jobs, consumers and businesses would have seen lower utility bills and greater energy choice once the pipeline was completed. But now, the prospect of such relief has disappeared.”  

In the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry’s statement, President and CEO Gene Barr said, in part, “Let’s be clear: this is no victory – not for ratepayers, who are now lacking a reliable source of gas and electricity; not for the economy, which is now out several thousand well-paying construction jobs at a time when the economy continues to struggle; and not for the environment, as this obstruction results in the mid-Atlantic being more reliant on imported fuels from foreign nations that do not have our strict environmental standards.”



Representative Jonathan Fritz
111th Legislative District
RepFritzPA.com / Facebook.com/RepFritz
Representative Tina Pickett
110th Legislative District
RepPickett.com / Facebook.com/RepPickett
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Fritz Media Contact: Abby Krueger 717-260-6617
Pickett Media Contact: Andy Briggs 717-260-6474  
 
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