Pennsylvania’s primary and special elections results showed some major surprises in the vote totals, a few which will have serious impacts in the fall and the future in Harrisburg. Two incumbent Congressmen and six sitting members of the state House of Representatives saw their House careers end with the results. Incumbents who lost by and large were centrist candidates, opposed by Tea Party/conservatives on the Republican ballot and more liberal opponents on the Democratic side of the aisle.

As the Marcellus natural gas play unfolds in Pennsylvania, several trends are becoming increasingly clear, according to Penn State researchers.

Late Tuesday, U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced plans to postpone the farm bill mark-up hearing originally scheduled for Wednesday. In a statement Sen. Stabenow said, “The Agriculture Committee has made significant progress and have bipartisan agreement on the bulk of the Farm Bill. We are committed to continuing to work together in a bipartisan way as we come to agreement on a few outstanding issues. This is a bill that impacts 16 million jobs and a huge sector of America’s economy, and it is important that we move prudently to create the best possible product.”

The decision by Shell Oil Co. to build an ethylene processing plant outside Pittsburgh is being seen as a major victory for the entire southwestern PA region by labor and business alike. It is expected to provide a huge economic boost in jobs and spending among supply chain businesses and construction companies.

The Liberty Financing Authority legislation was voted out of the Senate Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee this week with amendments.

The Senate Consumer Affairs and Professional Licensure Committee unanimously reported out the nomination of Public Utility Commissioner John Coleman for a second term.

The Public Utility Commission seeking comments on the future of energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) programs established under Act 129 of 2008. By a secretarial letter, the Commission requested input into future program areas as detailed on the links below.

In the three years since its creation, the Georgia Clean Energy Property Tax Credit, which creates an income tax credit for a variety of energy-efficient technologies, has led to clean energy property projects that generated more than $2.3 million in sales tax revenue, according to a report released by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority.  

Last week the Obama administration called for reducing the corporate tax rate to 28 percent from 35 percent, eliminating tax breaks and changing core features of the tax code such as interest deductibility.  The plan, which leaves many details up to Congress, would retain tax breaks for corporate research, manufacturing and renewable energy.

Gov. Tom Corbett this week signed three energy-related bills, including the long awaited natural gas impact fee bill which establishes new regulations for the expanding industry.