Innamorato talks clean energy
District 21 News: State Rep. Innamorato
My name is Sara Innamorato and I’m the State Representative for Pennsylvania’s 21st Legislative District.
As I work for you in Harrisburg and right here in Pittsburgh, I want to take this opportunity to keep you up to date on the issues I plan to address and remind you of some of the ways that my district office may be able to help you.
Legislation to keep an eye on
A greener future
As a state legislator, a huge part of my job is active listening. Before introducing legislation, it’s my responsibility to ensure I’ve heard from subject matter experts and taken the full spectrum of community needs into account. As we move toward cleaner energy, I’m doing just that. That’s why earlier this month, I attended the Workforce Development: The Clean Energy Challenge in southwest Pennsylvania, where industry leaders across the region came together to discuss how to best support our workforce as the clean energy economy continues to build momentum.
There, industry experts confirmed how crucial it is for us to fully support our workforce as we shift to green energy. An industrial shift like this will require necessary changes in our labor force, and it’s up to us to ensure they’re set up to thrive while navigating them.
That means we have to incentivize industries to embrace the green movement. On a national level, incentives look like the Green New Deal, and several states have followed suit by introducing similar legislation on the state level. That’s why I plan to introduce legislation that would create similar tax incentives for employers right here in Pennsylvania.
More and more employers are looking to utilize cleaner and cheaper industry sources; by establishing a green jobs tax credit in Pennsylvania, which would equal $500 for each new green job that pays $50,000 or more, we would bolster the switch while using our existing workforce.
Green jobs require specific skills, which means existing employees will need to expand their pool of knowledge in order to be more competitive. We can’t expect them to do this without significant support. These incentives would allow employers to provide comprehensive training programs for lower-skilled workers, allowing them to find employment in low-polluting industries with room to advance their careers. Furthermore, if the taxpayer employs a displaced worker from a fossil fuel or pollution-intensive industry, the incentive is increased by $100.
It’s incentives like these that provide a tangible road forward in the fight for clean energy. The work for our collective future can benefit us now. With the proper support, the act of building a better future for us all can also mean a better reality today.
Working for you
While I continue the fight in Harrisburg, my district office staff can assist you right here in Pittsburgh.
There are numerous state programs, benefits, and applications we can help you with. Below is a list of just a few of them:
- PennDOT services: car registrations and disability placard applications
- Complaints about road conditions or infrastructure
- Unemployment compensation problems
- Property tax/rent rebate applications
- Issues related to utility companies
- Birth certificate applications and finding copies of your vital records
- Senior ConnectCard applications through Port Authority of Allegheny County
This list sets a good example of what we can help with, but it isn’t exhaustive. If you have a problem that you need help solving but you aren’t sure who to ask, please give my office a call; even if we can’t directly help, we’ll do our best to put you into contact with someone who can.
- Call: (412) 781-2750
- Email: RepInnamorato@pahouse.us
- Or stop by my office: 5154 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201