The Coalition for Community Solar announced Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh) circulated a co sponsorship memo to his House colleagues seeking support for a community solar program for the state.

“Last session, we in the People’s House did something truly special. We worked on and passed, in a bi-partisan fashion, a bill that had been in the mix for over a decade. That bill was Community Solar,” wrote Rep. Schweyer. “The idea had been kicked around for years, but through your efforts we were able to produce a product that gives the average consumer the ability to reduce their electric bill while simultaneously strengthening our energy grid.

“All without placing the financial onus entirely on subscribers, and without burdening non-subscribers one bit. Additionally, and importantly, the construction of these projects would create thousands of family sustaining jobs for years to come.

“We acted, but the clock ran out. However, the need for reliable, affordable electricity has only grown over the intervening months – and will only continue to do so.

“Creating a distributed generation market via community solar is a vital tool in Pennsylvania’s all of the above energy strategy,” continued Rep. Schweyer.

Earlier this year, but in the previous legislative session, a form of this bill-- House Bill 1842  (Schweyer-D-Lehigh)--  passed out of the House with a bipartisan vote of 110-90, after having been passed unanimously out of the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee.

Ultimately, the session expired before the Senate was able to take a vote on the measure.

A 2020 Penn State study estimated that passage of this bill will stimulate more than $1.8 billion in economic development in the state.

The study also found that preparation, construction and opening of these facilities will create  11,631 prevailing wage jobs.

“Now more than ever, legislators  need to be looking for ways to slow - and if possible reverse - the impacts of rising energy bills for their constituents. Community solar can lower costs for everyone while also creating family sustaining jobs and helping save family farms, ” said Matt Hargarten, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for CCSA. “Last year’s House passage of similar legislation was a major step forward in creating this program, and we’re supportive of this bill making it across the finish line in 2025.”

Visit the Coalition for Community Solar website for more information on community solar.

Resource Links:

-- Vote Solar, Solar United Neighbors, 60+ Groups Urge PA Senate To Unlock Community Solar Energy Benefits By Taking Action On Bipartisan Legislation  [PaEN]

-- Solar United Neighbors Hails House Committee Action On Community Solar Legislation  [PaEN]

-- SolarBank's First 2 Community Solar Projects In PA: 13.8-Megawatt And 7 Megawatt Projects In Lancaster County Contingent On PA Passing Community Solar Legislation  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Shared Energy Manager Program Accepting Applications For Energy Assessment, Renewable Energy, Energy Conservation Work With Local Governments, School Districts  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center Accepting Applications For G.E.T. Solar Schools Technical Assistance Program To Help Apply For Solar For Schools, Other Funding  [PaEN]  

-- Coalition For Community Solar Access Applauds New Effort To Open Community Solar Market In Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Sustainable Pittsburgh: Report On Clean Energy Workforce - Needs And Opportunities For Southwestern PA  [PaEN] 

[Posted: December 17, 2024]

12/23/2024