On September 1, the House Consumer Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on legislation establishing a community solar program to allow electric consumers to subscribe to solar energy sources in several different ways without having solar panels on their roof.
Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) sponsored House Bill 531 which authorizes community solar projects allowing neighbors, businesses, farms, and other community members to directly participate in and receive the benefits from a solar project connected to their local electric distribution company’s grid.
Under current law, individuals who are renters, live in an apartment building, or lack roof access, are unable to participate in Pennsylvania’s growing solar economy,
Participants in a community solar can subscribe to a portion of an offsite solar project and receive credit on their electricity bill for the power produced, just as if the panels were on their roof.
An estimated $2 billion in solar energy investments is waiting for the passage of this bill. Read more here.
A companion bill was introduced in June of 2019 as Senate Bill 705 by Sen. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) and remains in the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.
The meeting will be held in Room 140 of the Main Capitol starting at 10:00. Click Here to watch the hearing live online.
Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-2353 or sending email to: broae@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.
For more information on community solar energy, visit the Solar United Neighbors- Pennsylvania webpage.
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[Posted: August 26, 2020] PA Environment Digest
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