Press Conference For The Human Impact Energy Report

Presented by the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania
and
The Energy Association of Pennsylvania

January 14, 2009

Click on the button below to download The Human Impact energy report.

Press coverage of the event

Public Radio Capitol News: New study has suggestions for LIHEAP

Centre Daily Times: Spread the Heat Around

Harrisburg Patriot-News: Advocates want more money for LIHEAP, a heating assistance program

The Scranton Times-Tribune & Republican-Herald: Group wants to expand heating assistance

The Philadelphia Inquirer: A call for Pa. to boost LIHEAP aid

Chambersburg Public Opinion: Our view: LIHEAP can be effective all through the year

WHTM 27, Harrisburg's ABC affiliate, ran a story on the report with a quote from Darlene Bigler during the 7:00 p.m. newscast on January 14.

Press Release

Thousands of Pennsylvanians Left Out in the Cold

New Energy Report reveals impact of energy costs on low-income families, Need for increased aid Report to be released during press conference

Harrisburg, PA – As temperatures across Pennsylvania hit record lows, a new energy report reveals the funding inadequacies of programs that provide heating assistance. The Human Impact: How rising heating and cooling costs are affecting low-income Pennsylvanians, will be released during a press conference on Wednesday, January 14 beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda.

The report, a collaborative project of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania and the Energy Association of Pennsylvania, addresses how rising energy costs are affecting low-income Pennsylvanians. The report particularly focuses on the importance of the Low Income Energy Home Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and includes a series of policy recommendations that will help LIHEAP better meet the needs of the Commonwealth's low-income and working poor citizens.

DATE: Wednesday, January 14, 2009

TIME: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

PLACE: Capitol Rotunda, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg

SPEAKERS:
Jim Stark, chairman, Energy subcommittee

Darlene Bigler, president of the Board of Directors, Community Action Association of Pennsylvania

Mike Love, president & ceo, Energy Association of Pennsylvania

Sonny Popowsky, consumer advocate of Pennsylvania

With winter just beginning, the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare announced last week that LIHEAP grants awarded for the 2008-09 heating season have increased 16 percent over the same period in the previous year, and there has been an 11 percent increase for those receiving emergency crisis grants. An already underfunded assistance program will continue to be stretched as we move into the traditionally harshest weather months for Pennsylvania.