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We're heartened to see compromise among Democrats and Republicans in Harrisburg in the $2 billion tax credit package just signed by Gov. Tom Wolf and designed to offer incentives for natural gas usage, hydrogen production, milk processing and biomedical research.
It came after "months of quiet negotiations between the Democrat and Republicans in the General Assembly," The Express reported this week.
Ninety cents out of each $1 offered will be used to encourage the use of natural gas, including $1 billion in tax incentives to attract a new "hydrogen hub" to Pennsylvania.
The package will provide millions in tax breaks for hydrogen production; using methane to produce other products such as fertilizer or gasoline; for a milk processing project; for biomedical research, and for semiconductor production.
Environmental groups roundly criticized the package as a waste of money that could instead be spent on "proven and inexpensive clean energy technologies" like solar and wind production.
Some conservative groups, such as the free-market Commonwealth Foundation, also came out against the proposal.
Perhaps that's why is it was labeled as legislation by compromise.
The proposal passed the state Senate 41-8, and then the state House sent it to Wolf's desk in a 139-59 vote. Lawmakers in both major parties were among the bill's supporters and opponents.
Pennsylvania must incentive natural gas usage, hydrogen production, milk processing and biomedical research.
It is being done by tax credits.
A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of income tax owed for a specified period. A tax credit is not a refund; it is a credit on income that reduces the taxable amount.
State House Speaker Bryan Cutler of Lancaster, perhaps said it best: "This is about focusing on Pennsylvania's strengths and making sure that those opportunities are there and not supporting the economies of countries that may not always have our best interests ... in mind."
Yes, in light of our world of conflict, we must become more self-sufficient.