Philadelphia Chamber, Local Labor Unions Join Energy Future PA
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Energy Future PA today announced the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and two local labor unions – Steamfitters Local 420 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 654 – have joined the growing coalition, highlighting its broad spectrum of partners.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Steamfitters Local 420, and IBEW Local 654 to our growing roster of partner members,” said Kate Harper, co-chair of Energy Future PA. “The future of Pennsylvania’s energy economy requires the strong voice of both the business community and labor unions.”
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia convenes business and civic leaders from the 11-county Greater Philadelphia region, while the Steamfitters Local 420 represents plumbers and pipefitters across the Greater Philadelphia region, and IBEW Local 654 represents electrical workers in Delaware and Chester counties.
“By taking steps to embrace a cleaner energy future, we can boost Pennsylvania’s economy, creating more opportunities and a brighter future for our region,” said Chellie Cameron, president and Chief Executive Officer, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. “Energy Future PA offers a commonsense, holistic approach to our energy strategy that we believe will benefit Pennsylvania businesses and communities.”
Public and private sector investments in the energy sector will also create and sustain well-paying jobs for hardworking Pennsylvanians. Those dollars stay local, with workers and families reinvesting in their communities by supporting the housing, retail, and service sectors.
Jobs and economic development are at the forefront of why the Greater Philadelphia Chamber and local unions have thrown their strong support behind the federal investment in regional hydrogen hubs in Pennsylvania. The Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2) project in the Philadelphia region and the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) project that includes western Pennsylvania were both recently selected for award negotiations to receive a portion of the $7 billion in federal hydrogen hub funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“Hydrogen hubs bring great promise not just to help power the local economy but also to help create and sustain jobs for skilled workers in our region,” said Jim Snell, business manager, Steamfitters Local 420. “We need focused investment in these innovative energy strategies, and Energy Future PA is an important voice to ensure Pennsylvania is at the forefront of these efforts.”
“Pennsylvania has long powered the nation, and it’s essential that we continue to be the nation’s energy powerhouse well into the future,” said Bill Adams, president and assistant business manager, IBEW Local 654. “To do that, we need the collective power of business, industry, education, and labor. That’s why we’re excited to join Energy Future PA. Because Pennsylvania is powered by thousands of skilled electricians, and their voices are essential to the energy conversation.”
In addition to the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, IBEW Local 654 and Steamfitters Local 420, the coalition includes the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry; Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences; the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council; and Bucks County-based PDC Machines, a manufacturer of hydrogen compressors and fueling stations.
“Energy Future PA embodies the greatest strengths of Pennsylvania,” said Energy Future PA Co-Chair Eugene DePasquale. “We have world-class research universities, the nation’s strongest workforce, and a business community that is united around keeping Pennsylvania competitive on the world stage. With their collective voices, we secure Pennsylvania’s legacy as the nation’s energy leader for future generations.”
Energy Future PA is a nonpartisan coalition that supports a comprehensive suite of energy solutions to help meet the nation’s future energy needs, including renewables and low-to-zero-carbon fuel sources such as clean hydrogen, advanced nuclear and carbon capture and storage technologies.
About Energy Future PA
Energy Future PA is a nonpartisan coalition focused on securing Pennsylvania’s leadership in a new, decarbonized energy economy. The campaign endorses an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, leveraging the power of Pennsylvania’s rich natural energy endowments, renewable energy sources and new innovative energy technologies to lead the nation’s energy future. Energy Future PA believes in a people-first strategy that preserves and expands jobs, powering the economy and strengthening communities. Learn more at EnergyFuturePA.org.
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