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Garrity Details Plans To Unleash Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas.Garrity Details Plans To Unleash Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas One could call it a combination of ‘Drill Baby Drill’ and ‘Unleash the Beast.’ Republican candidate for governor Stacy Garrity unveiled her plan to “unleash Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry” during an address to the Marcellus Shale Coalition in Hershey on Tuesday.“Together, we will make Pennsylvania America’s energy leader, and with it, America the energy leader for the World,” she told the coalition.“We will secure our energy future through the energy dominance that has been the hallmark of our commonwealth’s heritage, and by unleashing the liquid gold under our feet, we will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Pennsylvania.You will lead this charge, and here is how we’re going to do it in a Garrity-Richey administration.” - On Day One, sign an executive order to lift the outdated ban on new drilling sites; - Call a Special Session of the legislature on energy to fast-track permits for natural gas production, pipelines, and powerplants.- Eliminate duplicative and outdated regulations.- Set firm timelines for permit approvals.- Reform (or potentially eliminate) renewable energy and efficiency mandates.Garrity noted that the Commonwealth has seen 60 percent of its jobs tied to the natural gas industry disappear over the past decade from 300,000 to approximately 120,000.“My plan will expand energy generation capacity and spur downstream manufacturing,” she said.“And done right, we can create more than 200,000 jobs and $6 billion in revenue for state and local communities, allowing us to drill and frack our way out of the $5 billion hole we find ourselves in today.” According to Garrity, Pennsylvania stands as the number one net electricity exporter to the PJM grid, with almost 60% of that generation comes exclusively from natural gas – a share of electric generation that has quadrupled in the past 15 years.“The current administration instituted a cap on the price electricity can be sold at auction, and this is a dangerous precedent,” said the State Treasurer.“First, PJM operates on a market driven basis, and this price cap does not fix the problem – it only exacerbates it.Before the cap, states that did not send their fair share of energy to the grid paid a surcharge.With the cap in place, states with failed energy policies like Virginia and Maryland are now getting a free ride on the backs of Pennsylvania ratepayers.” Garrity wants neighboring states to send their fair share of energy to the grid.“Under my administration, Pennsylvania consumers will no longer be forced to pay for the failed policies of our neighboring states.We will lead an aggressive campaign with PJM and FERC to ensure that every state sends their fair share of energy to the grid… or they will face a penalty for relying on other energy generators.” The GOP gubernatorial candidate also wants to eliminate Pennsylvania’s Gross Receipts Tax, which she calls a hidden surcharge on electricity costing families and businesses over $1 billion every year.The tax on electric companies is based on gross receipts from sales of electric energy within Pennsylvania at a rate of 59 mills.Her plan says it will save the average family of four an estimated $400 in the first year, growing to $900 annually.“The success of Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry means the success of all Pennsylvanians,” she said.“Our Commonwealth’s oil and natural gas industry is the cornerstone of our economy.I am the proud daughter of Bradford County, from the heart of the Marcellus Shale Region… so supporting oil and natural gas is not a boilerplate political statement for me.In fact, I know how you operate, because you literally do it on my property!I understand how your work sustains rural communities, because that is my community.“Pennsylvania is at a fork in the road, and we have to decide what kind of state we want to be,” she continued.“Are we going to be a state where families open their electric bills with dread or are we going to be a state that uses Pennsylvania energy to power Pennsylvania’s future?”