Constituents

Elected officials from a wealthy Pittsburgh suburb are urging their constituents to vote against a controversial referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot that would ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) over fears that its passage would put the suburb in the crosshairs for lawsuits and undermine its drilling ordinance.

Tracking potential impacts of Marcellus Shale drilling activity on water quality will be the focus of a $750,000 research grant from the National Science Foundation, according to Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), which is to lead the collaboration.

Desperate to produce some kind of energy legislation to take home to constituents during the August recess, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives made another run at passage of a retreaded “use it or lose it” bill to restrict leasing on public lands Thursday, and lost.

Desperate to produce some kind of energy legislation to take home to constituents during the August recess, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives made another run at passage of a retreaded “use it or lose it” bill to restrict leasing on public lands Thursday, and lost.

As concern grows about the potential for high winter natural gas prices, the five commissioners of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) said they will preside over a public hearing on the issue on Sept. 18. The hearing will review current gas prices, discuss the forecasted supply and demand, outline programs to help consumers and increase consumer awareness related to gas prices for this winter.

Working to find ways to ease the burden of high gas prices on its constituents, the Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) unanimously approved an additional $50 refund for low-income senior citizens on their bills for March. Low-income seniors are already receiving $10 refunds on their January, February and March bills, while all consumers are receiving $14 refunds on their February and March bills.

Working to find ways to ease the burden on its constituents, theGeorgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) unanimously approved anadditional $50 refund for low-income senior citizens on theirnatural gas bills for March. Low-income seniors are alreadyreceiving $10 refunds on their January, February and March bills,while all consumers are receiving $14 refunds on their February andMarch bills.

As legislators across the nation continue to log concerns fromtheir constituents about spiking natural gas costs, Ohio is one ofthe states that has decided to launch an investigation. The stateis in the process of developing a special bipartisan committeecomprised of House and Senate members to examine why gas prices areso high.