As a result of six public hearings on energy issues at the beginning of this year by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, members of the House introduced a package of bills addressing a variety of energy issues. Here’s the rundown—

Pollution Reduction/Energy Efficiency: House Bill 2990 (Hershey-R) establishing an energy efficiency and pollution reduction initiative and creating a Keystone Energy and Environmental Excellence Award.

Air Quality Improvement Tax Credit: House Bill 2771 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) would establish a tax credit for power plants that burn bituminous coal and install certain air pollution control equipment which was reported from House Transportation with a request it be re-referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Weatherization Program: House Bill 3009 (Kenney-R-Philadelphia) providing for a Low-Income Weatherization program and funding.

Energy-Efficient Home Assistance Program: House Bill 3013 (Watson-R-Bucks ) establishing an Energy Efficient Home Assistance Program to award grants of up to $5,000 for energy efficiency or alternative energy systems by the Housing Finance Agency.

Solar Sales Tax Exemption: House Bill 3015 (McGill-R-Montgomery) providing for a sales and use tax exclusion for the purchase of non-business solar energy systems or other Energy Star rated products.

Energy Freedom Support Account: House Bill 3026 (Benninghoff-R-Huntingdon) establishing the PA Energy Freedom Support Account within the Energy Development Fund to finance municipal energy efficiency improvements.

Electric Rate Caps: House Bill 3030 (Ross-R-Chester) providing that electric suppliers must have a portfolio of contracts over a series of years to meet customer demand before the electric rate caps are removed.

Neighborhood Energy Tax Credit: House Bill 3040 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) creating the Neighborhood Energy Assistance Tax Credit.

High-Performance State Building Standards: House Bill 3047 (Rubley-R-Chester) requires facilities leased or owned by the Commonwealth to comply with certain energy and environmental standards.

High-Performance Building Tax Credit: House Bill 3048 (Rubley-R-Chester) providing owners and tenants with a tax credit for construction of a high-performance, energy efficient building.

Alternative Fuel Tax Credit: House Bill 3049 (Civera-R-Delaware) authorizing tax credits for qualified alternative fuel distributors.

State Energy Efficiency Initiatives: House Bill 3052 (M.Wright-R-Bucks) providing for a reduction in energy use in state buildings for energy efficiency in the state motor vehicle fleet and in state procurement.

Earlier this year, the Committee and House approved House Bill 1964 (Ross-R-Chester), that will help reduce Pennsylvania's dependence on foreign sources of energy by establishing tax credits for alternative energy businesses and House Bill 2253 (George-D-Clearfield) would create a State Energy Office and Energy Advisory Council within the Department of Environmental Protection.

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is chaired by Rep. Bill Adolph (R-Delaware) and the Democratic Chair is Rep. Camille George (D-Clearfield).

Links: House Hears About Energy Efficiency, Research, Alternative Fuels

House Committee Told Conservation Most Cost Effective Help on Energy

10/20/2006