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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Senate approves energy legislation Recently, the state Senate passed legislation to develop and encourage the use of alternative sources of energy that will be better for our environment as well as Pennsylvania consumers. In December, the Senate approved Special Session Senate Bill 1, which will support research and development of alternative energy technologies, help municipalities and businesses implement clean-energy projects, and cover a portion of the cost to consumers to install energy-saving equipment. I am pleased that this legislation also expands the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Other legislation would update our Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, which require a certain percentage of electricity to come from renewable sources like solar, wind and biomass over a 15-year period. In addition, the Senate approved Special Session Senate Bill 36 to increase the in-state production and use of biodiesel and study its impact on air quality. Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel source made from sources such as vegetable oil, and requiring it to be mixed with traditional diesel will be a positive step to help to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I am looking forward to working more in both the Special Session and regular session on this and other energy-related ideas to benefit our Commonwealth, and encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and feedback with me. Lancaster County Prevention Forum to be held in January The Lancaster County Council on Drug & Alcohol Abuse will be holding its popular Prevention Forum on January 14 at the Eden Resort. This all-day event provides a means to learn more about state-of-the-art approaches to alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention as well as current trends among young people. Although open to all interested individuals, substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals, law enforcement, human service agencies, educators, parents and community leaders in particular are encouraged to attend. This year, the forum will present the Drugs 101: What Parents Need to Know program, which gives attendees the chance to inspect a mock teenage drug user's bedroom and try to identify the signs of drug use. Role playing demonstrations will also be offered to help adults learn ways they can talk with children about drugs. The Lancaster County Prevention Forum runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and lunch will be provided. If you would like to attend, the free registration for the forum can be completed at www.dainfo.org. Credit card refund mailings are legitimate If you traveled abroad between 1996 and 2006, you may have received a legitimate mailing from the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia recently indicating your eligibility for a refund on your international credit card transactions. A class action lawsuit settlement requires Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club, among others, to reimburse consumers at least $25 for a non-disclosed currency conversion fee charged for purchases outside the United States during that time period. According to the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, as many as 30 million consumers nationwide can claim such a refund. If you discarded your notice and claim form or did not receive notification, you can access the Foreign Currency Antitrust Litigation Administrator for frequently asked questions and claim forms at www.ccfsettlement.com or by calling 1-800-945-9890. However, although this is a legitimate and verified settlement, the Better Business Bureau is cautioning that scammers could copycat the concept, and advises consumers to always ask questions to confirm the source of mailings and electronic correspondence.
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