12/16/24 - 110 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3ubmzu7a
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Rep. Ross Announces Bill To Expand Solar Energy Mandate In PA
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Rep. Chris Ross (R-Chester), with the support of the PA Solar Energy Industries Association and others, introduced a new legislation-- House Bill 1580 (not yet online)- to fix the crippled solar energy credits market in Pennsylvania. Click Here for video of the announcement.
“The solar energy industry in Pennsylvania is in a state of crisis right now,” says Rep. Ross. “The recent success of the solar grant programs in Pennsylvania has overwhelmed the Solar Renewable Energy Credit market. Now, the grants have been allocated, and there have been twice as many credits created than are needed for the next couple of years. Unless we do something promptly, the recent solar boom in Pennsylvania, which brought in hundreds of companies and thousands of jobs, will turn into a bust. I am hearing from many solar companies that are making plans to pull out of Pennsylvania due the solar credit market crash. My legislation is designed to get the demand for solar credits back into line with the supply, and thereby stabilize the marketplace."
This bill will increase the solar share only in the years 2012 through 2015 so the amount of solar energy that is required to be purchased by utilities more closely matches the growth in solar supply. Currently, utility companies are only obligated to purchase 0.5 percent of their total energy supply from solar by the year 2021. In contrast, the requirement for Delaware is 3.5 percent, Maryland is 2 percent, and New Jersey is 3 percent.
“It is critical that we pass this bill so we can build on the success of the solar energy industry in Pennsylvania,” says Ron Celentano, President of PASEIA. “Too much has been invested and too many jobs are at risk.” Maureen Mulligan, Government Relations Director of PASEIA, adds, “The solar share requirement for Pennsylvania’s utility companies needs to be aligned with the supply of solar.”
NewsClips: PA Solar Industry Suffering From Success
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5/30/2011 |
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