Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Minority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee,  Friday introduced House Bill 200 (not yet online) which he said would save the PA Sunshine Solar Program, which has helped homeowners and small businesses install solar systems.

            The Department of Environmental Protection announced January 26 an additional $7.5 million in funding for the PA Sunshine Solar Program is now available thanks to funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

"Solar power has many benefits and the commonwealth should do all it can to encourage its use," said Rep. Vitali. "Although the price of solar power is coming down, this legislation is needed to keep solar power competitive with other forms of energy."

Rep. Vitali said solar energy creates good-paying jobs in the Delaware Valley and the rest of the commonwealth, helps fight climate change and reduces America's dependence on foreign oil.

Rep. Vitali's bill, which has 20 co-sponsors and bipartisan support, would provide $25 million per year to the PA Sunshine Solar Program. Funding would come from the Marcellus Shale impact fee, which was enacted last year.

The popular program, which was created by the legislature in 2008, recently received the final $7.25 million of its initial $100 million appropriation. That's enough money to provide rebates for all projects currently on the waiting list and help fund an estimated 400 additional solar system installations this year. The Corbett administration has announced it will stop taking applications at the end of this year.

As a result of the program, Pennsylvania went from 13th to 6th in solar energy development, according to a former state Department of Environmental Protection official. But many of Pennsylvania's 800 certified solar installers face an uncertain future as the program winds down.

2/11/2013