U.S. Congressman Tim Murphy : 18th District Of Pennsylvania

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The Energy of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is what it is because of energy, and its future will be because of new energy development. The world was literally built by Pittsburgh energy. After all, Andrew Carnegie didn’t manufacture steel here because we had iron ore. It is because we had coal, and the water resources to transport it. To this day, Pittsburgh sits on a 250-year supply of coal—the Pittsburgh coal seam is one of the most valuable natural resource stockpiles in the world.

First the steel industry was born, and then came the railroads and names like Westinghouse, who developed airbrakes for trains, electrical systems, and the first commercial nuclear power plant. These advances inspired companies like Alcoa, Gulf Oil, and Rockwell who depend on oil.

The nation’s demands on industry were answered by Pennsylvania workers, who responded with innovation, invention, and production. The legacy of that workforce remains here in our manufacturing and universities.

Then, because Pittsburgh had to clean the air of all this industry, it became the world’s leader in environmental engineering.

It is no accident that Pittsburgh continues to be a world leader in nuclear, chemical and environmental engineering, robotics, and medical technology. Though many of our steel mills are closed, Pennsylvania still generates nearly one-tenth of the nation’s output. And Pennsylvania ranks fourth among states in coal production.

Now we are at a crossroads. The Energy Policy Act passed by Congress can have a monumental impact on Pittsburgh and allow it to produce the next generation of energy technology and scientists and engineers to develop it. The Act constitutes the greatest opportunity for Pittsburgh in decades.

For 30 years, neither Congress nor any administration had an energy policy. There were no policies to increase our oil production, or encourage the building of new oil refineries or nuclear facilities. But my colleagues and I on the Energy and Commerce Committee finally passed this landmark Act—our nation’s first comprehensive energy strategy in a generation.

The Energy Act’s investment in clean coal technology, nuclear energy, hydrogen fuel cells and other new technology will lower energy prices by increasing supply, create jobs due to increased production demands, and give the nation energy independence.

The job growth has already started in Pittsburgh—over the next year, Westinghouse Nuclear, Consol Energy, and Allegheny Energy each will hire nearly 500 new workers. In addition, each new mining job yields eight more jobs at later points in the production chain.

My unequivocal goal is energy independence for America in ten years. Conservation is important, but first and foremost, this nation must generate its energy right here at home. The Energy Act will help us do that.

But we have more we must do. We must aggressively increase oil and natural gas exploration. And we must pursue exploration diversification of energy sources. Southwestern Pennsylvania should be at the center of these actions. We owe it to our manufacturers, our nation, and I believe Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania can lead the way.

Our mission must be to meet the energy needs of our nation and our region in ways that protect the health of the public. That is why we must work together to pursue our mutual goals for a better, brighter future here. The opportunity is here, and the choice is ours! Let’s work together to make this a renaissance.

Energy Saving Tips You Can Use
Whether you are concerned about the environment or your family’s wallet we cannot ignore the importance of dealing with America’s energy needs. We can all do our part to conserve energy and save money in the long-run. Here are some helpful resources on what you can do to reduce energy costs:

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home. For a hardcopy of the booklet, call Congressman Murphy’s office at (412) 344-5583.

Additional tips for saving energy and reducing costs at home and while driving can be found by click here. If you have any tips of your own that you would like to share with others, please contact Congressman Murphy’s office at (412) 344-5583.