AP file photo Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Adams/Cumberland/Franklin/York, is pictured arriving in the state Capitol for Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget announcement in February.

In the midst of his campaign for governor, Sen. Doug Mastriano is pushing a more expansive energy independence bill than those that have been introduced in recent weeks.

Mastriano, R-Adams/Cumberland/Franklin/York, and Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-Butler/Clarion/Forest/Venango/Warren, introduced Senate Bill 1219 on Thursday. The bill, they said, is written to increase natural gas production and investment, reduce regulatory and permitting, open new state lands for natural gas production and formally withdraw Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Republicans have fought tooth and nail against Pennsylvania’s entry into RGGI, and Mastriano’s bill is the latest attempt to withdraw the state from RGGI following the state’s April entry into the agreement.

“With our abundant resources, Pennsylvania should be largely immune to energy cost volatility,” Mastriano said. “Cumbersome regulations, permitting delays, and misguided restrictions are handicapping the potential of our energy sector. Many companies simply choose to invest in states that are more energy friendly. Market volatility will not go away anytime soon. It’s time to take steps now to assert energy independence.”

Past energy independence proposals have used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a reason to act this year. Mastriano and Hutchinson are no different, saying in their legislative memorandum that Russia’s invasion has been fueled in part by oil and gas revenue that has been spent on weapons and military equipment.

“The war, sanctions and the international effects on energy prices have reminded us of the importance of cultivating our own domestic resources,” Hutchinson and Mastriano wrote in their memorandum. “With our abundant resources, Pennsylvania should be largely immune to energy cost volatility. Cumbersome taxes, regulations and restrictions are handicapping the potential of our energy sector. Many companies simply choose to invest in more energy friendly states like Texas and West Virginia.”

The senators propose requiring a report from the state Department of Environmental Protection) to the General Assembly on all current rules and regulations affecting the natural gas and coal industries and the respective economic impact of each regulation. It also requires legislative approval for any new regulations that affect the natural gas and coal industries.

Hutchinson and Mastriano propose more transparency in oil and gas permitting and expediting approvals by deeming applications “approved” if a decision is not made within 45 days. Gov. Tom Wolf’s ban oil and natural gas leases on state-owned lands would be ended while giving the state’s coal industry a boost by establishing an “Intrastate Coal/Natural Gas Use” provision to clearly state that any environmental regulation of coal that is extracted and used in Pennsylvania can only be exclusively regulated by the Commonwealth, not by the federal government. To preserve coal-powered plants, the bill exempts Pennsylvania plants from the EPA’s Wastewater Rule and Cross State Air Pollution Rule.

“Here in Pennsylvania, we are blessed with an abundance of natural resources that can provide good paying jobs, reduce energy costs for households and businesses, and help improve our nation’s economic and national security outlook for generations to come,” Hutchinson said. “We also know that these resources can be harnessed in ways that result in minimal impact to public health and the environment. This is a responsible measure to keep our nation moving forward.”

A poll released April 28 by cityandstatepa.com showed Mastriano with a 14-point lead over the next closest candidate in the Republican primary. The survey, conducted by a Democratic pollster and reviewed by City & State, surveyed polled 800 likely GOP voters over a three-day period and showed Mastriano with support from 28% of the poll’s respondents. The next-closest candidate is former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain.

Mastriano’s ambition for higher office is key for the future of legislation like Senate Bill 1219, which face almost certain vetoes from Wolf if they are passed by the Republican-led state Legislature.