By a vote of 42 to 8, the Senate Tuesday passed Senate Bill 234 (Blake-D-Lackawanna), a clean energy financing bill to enable local government Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, or C-PACE, programs in Pennsylvania.
“C-PACE financing is a proven tool to help Pennsylvania businesses invest in cost-saving energy efficiency projects, creating jobs and reducing energy costs,” said Julian Boggs, policy director for Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA).
Energy efficiency is booming business in Pennsylvania, accounting for more than 62,000 jobs and growing at 7-10 percent each year. These jobs include a broad array of professionals such as electricians, engineers, trained technicians, financial analysts, construction workers, facility managers, software developers, and other specialists.
The clean energy bill, sponsored by Sen. John Blake and Sen. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny), allows counties, cities, and towns to set up programs to finance energy efficiency and clean energy projects on commercial properties.
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have enabled C-PACE financing since 2007, and C-PACE programs in those states have generated $400 million in investments in energy efficiency and clean energy programs.
KEEA applauded Senators Blake and Reschenthaler for their leadership and urged the House of Representatives to pass can we say pass this legislation, a win-win-win for jobs, consumers, and clean air.
A Senate Fiscal Note and summary is now available.
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