The Senate Finance Committee last week passed a tax extenders package with a two-year extension of a wide variety of tax credit extensions, including a two-year extension of the renewable production tax credit. The credit can be claimed as a 2.3 cent per kWh tax credit for renewable electricity, or an alternative 30 percent investment tax credit. The credits, which expired at the end of last year, would be extended through the close of 2016.
MORE »The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is inviting manufacturers, retailers, service providers, agricultural businesses, and other small businesses to apply for a Small Business Advantage Grant to finance pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects.
MORE »As noted above, last Wednesday, after a couple weeks of speculation and a courtship by national Democratic leaders, Governor Wolf’s Chief of Staff Kathleen McGinty resigned from her post. McGinty is expected to announce she will challenge former US Rep. Joe Sestak for the Democratic nomination for the state’s US Senate seat in the 2016 primary.
MORE »DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn last week updated members of the Natural Gas Advisory Committee on the department’s ongoing efforts to monitor natural gas extraction and management on DCNR lands.
MORE »Gov. Tom Wolf’s on Thursday named Mary Isenhour as his chief of staff, a move welcomed by leaders in both parties who have known her for more than 15 years.
MORE »Last week after a three hour budget negotiating session, it appeared that a minor thaw was coming for the discussions on crafting a state budget acceptable to all parties – all parties said the meeting was “productive.” On Wednesday, Governor Wolf’s Chief of Staff Katie McGinty resigned – with the Governor naming his Legislative Secretary Mary Isenhour to the post, changing the dynamic of budget discussions (see stories below). Then last Thursday, Gov. Wolf took the 90-minute drive to State College area to talk Senate Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman and House Majority Leader Dave Reed about the budget impasse.
MORE »Governor Tom Wolf this week announced the names of 48 individuals who were selected to participate on the Pennsylvania Pipeline Infrastructure Taskforce, chaired by Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley. The group of experts and stakeholders will recommend policies, guidelines and best practices to guide the anticipated and unprecedented build-out of pipeline infrastructure expected to take place across Pennsylvania during the next decade.
MORE »Two weeks into the 2015 state budget impasse, we are reminded of a line from Tom Clancy’s Executive Orders…” “Diplomacy was like a card game. The difference was that you never really knew the value of the cards in your own hand.”
MORE »The paradox of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object seems apt for the state budget process this year, as the battle of perceived mandates continued through the evening of June 30. Of course, reality tells us the paradox is a false premise. Existence of either would make the other impossible.
MORE »Following on the heels of it’s announcement to set standards on airplane emissions, today the EPA announced new standards for heavy-duty trucks.
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