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| Dear Friend, Thank you for subscribing to Comitta’s Corner. I hope you had a memorable Labor Day weekend. As we move into fall, activity in Harrisburg and around the district tends to pick up. Please feel free to share these updates with friends, family, and anyone else who may be interested. PJM Reform Recently, I joined energy efficiency advocates, fellow lawmakers, and business leaders to call for reform at PJM (Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland) Interconnection. Watch. PJM coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity across a 13-state area in the U.S., serving over 67 million people. In short, it controls the market in which utilities sell electricity to consumers. That’s important because electricity bills are rising as more data centers come online. In addition, we have real concerns that data center growth is going to boost demand, strain the grid, and drive electric bills even higher. Unfortunately, PJM's structure does not allow states or consumer advocates the voice – or voting power – that they need and deserve. Furthermore, PJM operates a two-tiered voting system in which members, electricity generators, and utility companies first vote on policies in lower-level committees, where votes are held in private and not recorded. That is not fair, and it isn’t right. It’s why I introduced legislation, Senate Bill 616, to require electric utilities that are members of PJM to disclose their votes. In addition, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is currently pressing for major governance and stakeholder process overhauls at PJM. Recovery Works License Plate It’s National Recovery Month. To celebrate people in recovery and remind those battling addiction or substance abuse that help is available, I’m partnering with State Senator John Kane on legislation to establish a “Recovery Works” specialty license plate in Pennsylvania. Proceeds from specialty plate sales would benefit the Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance (PRO-A), a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to supporting individuals in recovery and educating the public about addiction and recovery. About 16 percent of Pennsylvanians aged 12 and older – roughly 1 in 6 residents or nearly 2 million people – struggled with a substance use disorder over the past year, according to data compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Meanwhile, more than one million Pennsylvanians are living in long-term recovery, and thousands receive treatment each year in the Commonwealth’s 450 licensed recovery homes. This is a simple way that we can send the message to people and families dealing with substance abuse and addiction that you are not alone. Thousands of Pennsylvanians are facing the same battle, and many are leading happy, healthy, and productive lives in recovery thanks to the many resources, organizations, and treatment programs available. Updated Outreach Schedule
This month, we’re updating our outreach office hour schedule to better serve constituents throughout the 19th District. At outreach office hours, staff members are available to assist residents with a number of issues and state services, including applying for the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program, SEPTA Key Senior ID Cards, Birth Certificates, Unclaimed Property, and more. We will now be at Brandywine Valley Active Aging's Coatesville Campus on the first Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. And we will be at the Coatesville Area Public Library on the first Thursday of the month from noon to 1:30 p.m. Our eight monthly outreach office hours are opportunities to meet in person, answer any questions, and connect constituents with important services and programs. If you have a problem, a concern, or need assistance with state government issues, I encourage you to stop by, or visit my district office in West Chester. You can also call us or contact us online. Transportation Update Starting next week (September 13), PennDOT is scheduled to begin milling and repaving eastbound U.S. 30 (Exton Bypass), to provide long-term sinkhole remediation on the highway in West Whiteland and East Caln townships. Under this project, PennDOT’s contractor will perform permanent repairs to sinkholes at two locations on U.S. 30 (Exton Bypass) between Business U.S. 30 (Lancaster Avenue) and Clover Mill Road. During that time, alternating lane closures will be in place on eastbound U.S. 30 (Exton Bypass) between the U.S. 322 (Horseshoe Pike) and the Route 113 (Uwchlan Avenue) interchanges. As part of the remediation, crews will use a limited mobility grouting program that involves drilling a series of holes through the pavement in a “grid” pattern. Crews will inject pressurized grout into the drilled holes to fill subsurface voids beneath the roadway. Filling subsurface voids will help stabilize the ground beneath the pavement and reduce the risk of future sinkholes. Drivers are advised to allow extra time when driving through the work area because backups and delays may occur. The schedule is weather-dependent. Upcoming Events and Opportunities Our team is looking forward to an autumn of outdoor events, street festivals, and community day celebrations in parks and downtowns throughout our region. In addition to our updated outreach hours in Coatesville, Easttown, Downingtown, Malvern, Oxford, and West Chester we attend community events throughout the 19th District to offer in-person services. Please keep these important dates in mind:
We hope to see you there. Take good care of yourself, and if you can, take care of someone else, too. And please know that my staff and I are always here for you. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have at [email protected]. Carolyn Comitta |
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