AUGUST 3, 2010 | Commentary by DOUG MCLINKO

Gas Fuels Growth

The national economy is in a slump, unemployment remains stubbornly high, and economic growth is being hampered by misguided policies. Meanwhile, Bradford County, Pennsylvania led the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in net job growth from March of 2009 through March of 2010 with 2500 new jobs or a 7.2% employment increase. The robust increase in jobs is a direct result of Marcellus Shale drilling and its ancillary economic benefits.

JULY 28, 2010 | Policy Report by BEACON HILL INSTITUTE AT SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY

Growing Money on Trees

An Analysis of PA’s Climate Change Action Plan

In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee (PCCAC), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), released its report, Pennsylvania: Final Climate Change Action Plan. However, a cost-benefit analysis finds serious flaws in the report, rendering its findings useless for policymakers seeking to make informed policy decisions about climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania.

JULY 16, 2010 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

CF Responds to PennFuture Demands

A July 14, 2010 letter from PennFuture's attorney claimed the Commonwealth Foundation's Policy Brief, "PennFuture's Lobbying: Hypocritical, unethical, and possibly illegal," contained three inaccuracies and demanded retraction. The Commonwealth Foundation responded on July 16, 2010.

JULY 9, 2010 | Commentary by PAUL CHESSER

PennFuture: Harrisburg's Lobbying Launderers

According to its website, PennFuture claims to have secured stronger pollution rules in state agencies; convinced legislators to pass several laws; won $80 million in utility rate cases; and convinced Gov. Ed Rendell and the general public to support a bond issue for environmental funding. Yet for all these accomplishments - most of which it attributes to the help of its faithful supporters - PennFuture reported spending zero dollars on grassroots lobbying between 2004 through 2007.

JULY 8, 2010 | News Release by COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

PennFuture’s Hypocritcal, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal Lobbying

Report identifies activities of nonprofit eco-activist group

Chesser's report, PennFuture's Lobbying: Hypocritical, Unethical, and Possibly Illegal, describes how the eco-activist organization received nearly $1 million during the last five years from alternative energy companies. 

"These alternative energy companies benefited from PennFuture's lobbying for corporate tax breaks and taxpayer-funded ‘economic development' funds," writes Chesser.  "Yet the group reported to the Internal Revenue Service that it spent no money on grassroots lobbying on four of its past five tax returns."

JULY 8, 2010 | Policy Brief by PAUL CHESSER

PennFuture's Lobbying

Hypocritical, unethical, and possibly illegal

PennFuture (a.k.a. Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future), the organization founded by Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection John Hanger over 10 years ago, frequently criticizes the lobbying by traditional energy industries. But a close look at the environmental activist group shows at least questionable and hypocritical, if not unethical or illegal, advocacy practices.

JUNE 22, 2010 | Commentary by KATRINA CURRIE

The Marcellus Shale: A Real Stimulus

The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. A Penn State study found Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale activity in 2009 created 44,000 direct and indirect jobs and generated almost $400 million in state and local tax revenue. The study predicts the industry will generate over 111,000 jobs and $987 million in state and local tax revenue by 2011. Unfortunately, these positive developments could be eroded if additional taxes and regulations are imposed.

JUNE 11, 2010 | Testimony by NATHAN BENEFIELD, KATRINA CURRIE

Green Jobs and the Broken Window Fallacy

Testimony to the Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee

This concept applies to the "green jobs" craze gripping lawmakers.  Green jobs, i.e., jobs in wind, solar, and other alternative energies, are in and of themselves a good thing.  But when government attempts to pick winners and losers-by identifying which industries are "green" or "good" and subsidizing them at taxpayers' expense, mandating their use, and even punishing their competitors with costly regulations-it hinders our overall economy.  Jobs created in industries that depend on government assistance are not sustainable, will not stimulate the economy, and will not result in net job growth.

JUNE 8, 2010 | Policy Brief by KATRINA CURRIE, ELIZABETH STELLE

Pennsylvania's Natural Gas Boom

Economic & Environmental Impacts

The Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be the largest unconventional natural gas reservoir in America, and its exploration has been coined a modern-day gold rush. More than a mile underground, this once unreachable gas is now recoverable thanks to advancements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology.

MAY 24, 2010 | Commentary by MATTHEW BROUILLETTE

The Real "Special Interest" Problem in PA

Everyone loves to hate "special interests."  They spend millions of dollars in electing and lobbying public officials in order to gain political or legislative favor. 

So it was no surprise when groups like PennFuture and the Keystone Research Center's Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center joined with Common Cause PA and the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters to attack individuals affiliated with the natural gas industry for giving $2 million in state campaign contributions over the past 10 years.  Nor was it surprising that they called for a severance tax to punish this "special interest."