Carbon capture hubs and placing more focus on generation to bolster the electric grid reliability These critical statewide issues are among those being tackled by the state Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee in 2025, and for one state lawmaker serving Greater Williamsport and five counties in north-central Pennsylvania, they are tied by a commonality – the future of the environment depends on a strong economy.

“The best thing we can have for our environment is the most robust economy we can have,” said state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, who is chairman of the committee which recently voted out of committee several bills.

As Yaw briefed reporters recently on the goings on of the committee, and took questions at his office, he said among the technologies on the cusp of becoming a reality in the state – and used in other states – is that of carbon capture.

“A lot of people say it might not work,” said Yaw, acknowledging he was not an engineer or specialist on it but said the committee does not believe it should be put aside and legislation that passed the committee is a slow step in the right direction.

“We thought it was important to say ‘let’s have a framework,’ ” he said of the carbon capture bill.

He added that if and when carbon capture becomes more prevalent, ample amounts of federal government money is available to advance the technology and the state would be prepared to use the money and be in a position where it is proactive rather than reactive.

In fact, carbon dioxide (CO2) storage hubs are being used by large oil and gas companies, such as Chevron.

These are deep geological reservoirs where emissions from carbon-intensive industries are captured and permanently stored.

CO2 storage hubs offer a solution for what are known as hard-to-abate sectors They are used by industries such as petrochemical, power, steel and cement manufacturing where it’s difficult to decrease carbon intensity.

They are frequently served by pipes that transport the carbon to the hub. They are considered hubs because they collect and store CO2 emissions from multiple industries located near the hub.

Yaw expressed how energy is the “key building block” for societies across the world.

His philosophy is simple: “With energy you can build an economy and with the economy you can address the environment.”

During the media briefing, Yaw discussed where the committee has been and where it is going and what it hoped to accomplish in the next couple of months and throughout the year.

“Some of the things we are doing are very, very long term,” he said. “There is no question about that.”