Board backs Energy Choice Act, votes to opt out of state CLCPA mandates

The Allegheny County Board of Legislators on Sept. 11 adopted two resolutions expressing the county’s opposition to state and federal mandates on natural gas and climate benchmarks. Both measures passed on voice votes after the board voted to consider the items from the floor.

One resolution, offered as a show of support for U.S. Rep. Nicholas Langworthy’s Energy Choice Act, was described in the meeting as opposing a government‑mandated natural gas ban and was introduced for consideration by Legislator Ricky; the resolution itself was moved by Legislator Healy and seconded by Legislator Demick and then approved by voice vote. A second resolution would authorize the county to opt out of mandates and benchmarks under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA); the board moved to consider it from the floor and then adopted the measure after discussion.

During debate, Legislator Healy framed the two resolutions as opposition to policy initiatives he described as driven by New York City politics and said the board was acting on behalf of upstate interests. The transcript records general support on the floor; both resolutions were carried without roll‑call tallies recorded in the portion of the transcript where the final voice votes were taken.

These resolutions are expressions of policy position by the county legislative body; they do not by themselves change state law or automatically alter county regulatory obligations under state statute. The transcript does not show any legal citations to specific CLCPA sections or the Energy Choice Act text; it records debate and the board’s approval.