We are thankful for the efforts of state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, to better protect the right of Americans to choose for themselves how to heat and power their homes.

The future prosperity of our region — and of America as a whole — depends in part on affordable energy. A diverse array of sources for that energy, allowing consumer choice, will provide our communities and our nation their best opportunity to secure that affordable energy.

Allowing municipalities and counties to hamstring development and consumption of energy — whether it be natural gas or solar or other — is counterproductive to ensuring our needs for affordable energy are met.

Our state senator was prompted to pursue this legislation, in large part, because some communities around the nation have targeted natural gas specifically, attempting to ban gas hookups in new construction.

We believe that, in particular, is a foolish policy. Natural gas remains a vital bridge toward reducing emissions and pollution — as we noted in an editorial back in November, domestic gas development in recent decades is largely responsible for falling emissions levels.

As we quoted then, “fracking has helped the environment more than every road-blocking protest and project-blocking lawsuit from the green movement combined,” commentary from the National Review correctly observed.

Just as importantly, the gas industry has created jobs and contributed to local economies to a critical degree.

Choice and the free market are important principles that bolster our society. The responsible development of natural gas and other resources has been both an economic and environmental boon. We appreciate that Yaw is defending our communities on both of these points and we hope his colleagues in the legislature understand and agree with his efforts.