This is the testimony I gave on Thursday, April 18, at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission public hearing about PECO’s proposed energy procurement plan, which falls far short of what’s needed to move toward a more sustainable and affordable energy future. This was part of an effort by POWER Interfaith and other climate justice groups to intervene in the regulatory rubber stamping that has not been considering the urgent changes needed in energy production:

“Thank you, Your Honors, and members of the PUC.

I am Rev. Nathaniel Mahlberg, a pastor serving a church on the Upper Mainline, the United Church of Christ at Valley Forge.

I am also a PECO ratepayer in my household, and I support a substantial increase in affordable renewable energy in the Default Service Plan.

As a pastor in a faith community I have the privilege of hearing the deepest concerns on people’s hearts. And I’ll tell you, a lot of folks are troubled with worries – legitimate worries – about human driven climate change. Especially in the past few years now that the catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis have become undeniable, I’ve had more and more folks over a range of backgrounds and political perspectives share with me concerns about our shared future on a livable planet. This is especially true among young folks, but also with older folks who are worried about their children and grandchildren, if not themselves. I, for one, am here more than anything else, as a father who is concerned about the worsening natural disasters and ecosystem collapse in the world my daughter will be inheriting.

There’s a strong value in my religious community around what we call Stewardship of God’s Creation. But the hard thing is there’s such a feeling of helplessness about how to meaningfully live out that value. In the face of the enormity of the problems of climate change what difference does it really make if I and my family make this choice or that choice or not? Objectively, not much. Objectively, not enough.

But it’s a different matter when we ask what we can do together. Together we can make a meaningful difference to be better stewards. That’s why we’re coming together as citizens to influence those who have the power and the responsibility, such as the PUC and PECO, to direct our common-wealth in ways that are wise and effective in taking care of our community’s needs now and into the future.

The good news is that if you take a longer view when it comes to energy procurement plans and substantially increase longer term contracts with renewable energy suppliers, you can find solutions that are both more affordable and more sustainable. This is born out in the research that Energy Justice Advocates has submitted to the Commission.

This is what I urge you to do with the Default Service Plan.

It’s good stewardship, financially and environmentally. And it’s what we desperately need.

Thank you for your time and public service.”

Delivered, Thursday, April 18, 2024 by Rev. Nathaniel Mahlberg