"That Pennsylvania should establish a policy to substantially increase the availability of renewable energy in the commonwealth, while at the same time maintain a balance between consumer need and cost, both financially and environmentally."

That thorny issue is up for debate by six high school debate teams. The championship competition is set for Wednesday (4/28) at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel in downtown Scranton. High school teams from Blue Ridge, Carbondale, Elk Lake, Old Forge, Valley View and Wallenpaupack survived a preliminary debate competition of 10 teams held April 6 to advance to the championship tournament.

PP&L, Inc. and the Pennsylvania Department of Education are primary sponsors of the high school energy debates, with contributing support coming from Northeastern Educational IU19, National Institute for Environmental Renewal, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

In preparation for the debate competition, students and their faculty advisors attended workshops to get resources about the debate resolution and debate techniques. The teams also toured three PP&L, Inc. power plants to see how electricity is generated from various energy sources. Environmental, economic and quality of life issues were discussed during the debate teams' preparation.

The debate format being used is the advocacy style, a mock trial debate, modeled after the 1970s public-television program "The Advocates." During the competition, debating teams must argue for and against the resolution. Three rounds of debates will be held Wednesday.

About 40 persons from business, labor, the professions, and education will select a winner and runner-up team. Also, a special award will be given to the student selected as the most valuable debater.

The registration at the Radisson is at 8:30 a.m. The first round of debates will start at 10 a.m. Debaters will break for lunch and complete the competition in the afternoon.

Awards will be presented to all participants. Winning and runner-up teams will receive trophies for their schools.

Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend the debate competition. Please contact Larry Sparta or Meg Welker.