The Pennsylvania Conservative Energy Forum (PennCEF) was created August, 2018 by conservatives, for conservatives who want the Commonwealth to adopt an all-of-the-above diversified energy portfolio that includes an emphasis on moving to clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. PennCEF believes that an all-of-the-above energy policy will help create good-paying local jobs across the state, improve our grid and national security, conserve our natural resources, and position America to compete in the global energy marketplace while securing energy independence.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a long history of fossil fuel extraction. We are the second-largest electricity producer in the nation, ranking as the country’s fourth-largest coal producer and the second-largest natural gas producer (with gas providing the bulk of the state’s energy). Today only 4% of Pennsylvania’s net electricity generation comes from renewable sources, but this number is primed to rise. While natural gas remains an important source of energy globally and stimulates economic growth locally, it is vital that we diversify our energy portfolio with new renewable technologies for a variety of economic, environmental, and security reasons.
Transitioning to clean, renewable energy insulates us from sudden and unpredictable fluctuations in the price of natural gas, creates local jobs that can’t be shipped overseas, attracts investments to our state from companies looking to put down roots, conserves our natural resources – helping to protect our outdoor sporting and hunting pastimes – and increases our grid and national security. The volatility of gas markets, and the fact that utilities are not building new coal plants here at home or abroad, means we must look for and support market access for innovative technologies that are changing the way we produce and consume electricity.
The lack of conservative voices in the broad energy debate up to this point drove us to form PennCEF, a forum where conservatives can discuss and embrace smart and balanced energy policy solutions. We seek to educate our fellow conservatives, policy leaders, and the public on the benefits of a diversified energy portfolio, and to spur Pennsylvania conservatives to action, advocating and adopting affordable, reliable, clean, and efficient energy that will power generations to come.
We proudly state the following:
- Energy diversity is good for all of our citizens. We don’t denigrate Pennsylvania’s legacy energy industries — including coal, natural gas and nuclear. We DO believe that clean and renewable sources like wind, solar and biomass ought to have the same market access and development freedoms that our traditional sources already have.
- Land rights are a necessary component of a free and democratic society. If farmers and property owners are restricted by state or local governments, or buy utilities, from installing clean and renewable energy on their land, it is counter to their rights as Pennsylvanians and as Americans.
- Economic development and jobs are the hallmarks of our movement. In PA, clean energy jobs currently stand at 90,000 plus and are growing at a rate of 6% annually.
- National security must be preserved. More diverse and local energy here at home means greater resiliency in the face of foreign attack or natural disaster, and freedom from endless overseas conflict. We encourage you to explore our online resources, and join the movement!
Sincerely,
Chad A. Forcey
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Conservative Energy Forum
Get Involved
We offer a variety of ways for you to engage with us. To learn more about how you can get involved with PennCEF or if you have general questions, please contact Chad Forcey by phone 717-645-9055 or by email at chad.forcey@penncef.org
