The House Consumer Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a meeting April 19 on House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R-Allegheny) authorizing the establishment of a local solar energy subscriber program, the former House Bill 1970 from last session. 

This legislation was one of two bills introduced last session to promote the growth of solar energy in Pennsylvania, but in different ways.

House Bill 1161 has been supported by Duquesne Light, the Energy Association of PA and the Edison Electric Institute, traditional electric distribution/ generation groups. Read more here.

The other bill-- House Bill 531 (Kaufer-R-Luzerne) and its companion Senate Bill 705 (Scavello-R- Monroe) from last session reintroduced as Senate Bill 472 by Sen. Scavello this session-- have been supported by the Pennsylvania Conservative Energy Forum, the Coalition for Community Solar Access, Community Energy and other groups.  Read more here.

At the end of last session, the former Majority Chair of the Committee Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford) encouraged the groups to get together to see if they could work out language for a single bill.

The meeting will be held off the floor at the call of the Chair in Room G-50 Irvis Building.  Click Here to watch live.

Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the House Consumer Affairs Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-260-6432 or sending email to: jmarshal@pahousegop.com.  Rep. Robert Matzie (D-Beaver) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-4444 or sending email to: rmatzie@pahouse.net.

Related Articles To This Bill:

-- House Committee Hears Comments On Bill Authorizing Local Solar Energy Subscriber Programs

-- Sen. Scavello Introduces Bill Authorizing Community Solar Projects; $2 Billion Worth Of Projects Waiting For It To Pass

NewsClips:

Ceres: 310 Businesses And Investors Representing Over $3 Trillion In Annual Revenue Urge Biden Administration To Set Ambitious Federal Climate Target

AP: Business Leaders Urge Biden To Set Ambitious Climate Goal

USA Today: Texans Asked To Conserve Electricity As Power Grid Again Strained, This Time Amid Mild Weather, Maintenance

Related Articles This Week:

-- PA Conservative Energy Forum: Harvesting Pennsylvania Clean Energy 'Land & Liberty Coalition' Grassroots Initiative

-- Business, Environment, Energy Groups Praise Introduction Of Bipartisan Bills Increasing Solar Energy Mandate From 0.5% To  5.5% In PA

-- Talen Energy Announces $2 Billion Joint Venture With Pattern Energy To Grow Renewable Energy Generation Portfolio

-- DEP Issues Report Assessing PA's Energy Storage Capacity For A Cleaner, More Resilient Electric Grid

-- Bradford White Water Heater Manufacturer, 5 Other PA Companies Receive 2021 EPA ENERGY STAR Partner Of Year Awards

-- Penn State Wind Energy Club Prepares To Compete In DOE Collegiate Wind Competition

-- DCED Awards Funding To Support Apprentice Program For Geothermal Energy Project Installation Training

-- PA Environmental Council: Reassessing Our Climate Footprint As An Organization

Related Articles - PA Republicans Trying To Block Renewable Energy:

-- Sen. Yaw Bill Would Load Up Renewable Energy Projects, Makers Of Energy Efficiency Products, Biomass, Coal Waste Plants, Alternative Fuels, Even High-Efficiency Locomotives With Bonds To Make Them Less Competitive

-- Sen. Yaw Plans Bills To Stop State From Supporting Solar Energy Projects With Any Foreign Components; Adopt A Moratorium On Rulemaking During A Declared Emergency

-- Sen. Yaw Introduces Bill To Preempt Local Governments From Requiring New Buildings Use Climate-Friendly Energy Sources

-- Sen. Dush Introduces Senate Bill 530 Requiring Recycling Of Solar Panels Thru Broken State Electronic Waste Recycling Program.  Read more here.

Related Articles - Some PA Republicans Trying To Promote Solar Energy:

-- Senators Laughlin, Haywood Announce Bipartisan Bill To Increase AEPS Solar Share To 5.5%

-- Business, Environment, Energy Groups Praise Introduction Of Bipartisan Bills Increasing Solar Energy Mandate From 0.5% To  5.5% In PA

-- Sen. Scavello Introduces Bill Authorizing Community Solar Projects; $2 Billion Worth Of Projects Waiting For It To Pass

[Posted: April 14, 2021]

4/19/2021