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For Immediate
Release
2/3/12
Senate Majority Policy Committee Sets Hearing on Statewide
Impact of Southeast PA Refinery Closures
Harrisburg – The Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted
Erickson (R-26), will hold a public hearing Monday on the impact that three
planned oil refinery closures will have on statewide fuel supplies.
The hearing will be held Monday, February 6 at 10 a.m. in the Senate Majority
Caucus Room of the Capitol. Scheduled to appear before the committee are energy
researcher and consultant Kevin J. Lindemer; Russell D. Christoff and John Kulik
of the Pennsylvania Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (PPMCSA);
and Dennis Rochford of the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay.
The panel will discuss a study commissioned by PPMCSA on the impact that
refinery closings in Marcus Hook, Trainer and Philadelphia could have on the
supply of petroleum products – including gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil
– in Pennsylvania.
"The immediate impact of these closings will be felt regionally, but the
effects will stretch across the commonwealth," said Erickson. "These sites fill
much of Pennsylvania's petroleum needs, from border to border. The cost of home
heating, transportation and more will be affected and we need to prepare for the
impact ahead of time."
The impact could be especially serious in the Pittsburgh region, where
federal regulations require use of a specific blend of gasoline provided by the
refineries.
"Ideally, new owners will be found for those sites and they will continue to
be used as refineries," said Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-9). "Governor Corbett's
Action Team, a coalition of union representatives, and a group of federal, state
and local officials are aggressively supporting that effort. It's also important
to understand the potential consequences if these sites close or are converted
to different uses."
If a sale is not completed, Sunoco and ConocoPhillips have indicated that the
facilities could be dismantled.
NOTE: The hearing will be streamed live on Senator Erickson's website,
senatorerickson.com.
CONTACT:
Michele Hansarick
717-787-1350 (Sen. Erickson)
Erik Arneson
717-787-4712 (Sen. Pileggi)
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