Alternative Energy Standards Bill Reported From House Committee

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this morning amended and reported out House Bill 2405 (DePasquale-D-York) which would increase the solar mandate provisions of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and provide for carbon sequestration facilities by a vote of 17 to 9.
Rep. DePasquale said his legislation would significantly boost the amount of energy in Pennsylvania derived from cleaner, alternative energy sources. This shift would help create manufacturing jobs in the Commonwealth and provide enough clean energy to power 2.1 million homes.
"The bipartisan support shown for this bill today proves the value placed in maintaining and improving our alternative energy standards," Rep. DePasquale said. "We must reinforce our position as an alternative energy leader in order to maintain competitiveness in terms of job growth and investments in this field."
Rep. DePasquale said his legislation would strengthen the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004 by requiring 28 percent of Pennsylvania’s energy come from clean sources by 2024; the current requirement is 18 percent by 2020. It would nearly double the share of energy that must come from the cleanest sources by requiring 15 percent – increased from 8 percent – of energy be derived from wind, low-impact hydro, geothermal, biologically derived methane gas, fuel cells, biomass energy, coal mine methane and solar. This includes a six-fold increase in the solar requirement from 0.5 to 3 percent.
In addition, this legislation would provide a pathway for cleaner coal technologies by requiring 3 percent of energy come from carbon capture and sequestration. This would allow coal to be used in a way that is better for our environment while maintaining critically important industry jobs in southwestern Pennsylvania, Rep. DePasquale said.
Consumers also would be protected in this legislation by requiring the state Public Utility Commission to delay the alternative energy requirements by the utilities if it determines the cost of compliance is too high or there isn’t enough alternative energy ready for the grid.
This legislation also would build upon Rep. DePasquale’s Alternative Energy Investment Act of 2008, which invested $650 million into alternative energy resources. That law provides consumers and businesses with low-interest loans for geothermal, wind and solar installation, creating alternative energy manufacturing jobs across the state all while saving consumers money and boosting Pennsylvania's economy.
The Committee added three amendments to the bill and it now goes to the House Floor. Similar legislation-- House Bill 80-- has languished on the House Calendar after being considered several times by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.