House Committee Reports Out Bill Authorizing Local Solar Energy Subscriber Programs By Utilities

On April 19, the House Consumer Affairs Committee voted to amend and report out House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R-Allegheny) authorizing the establishment of a local solar energy subscriber programs by utilities, the former House Bill 1970 from last session.  

This legislation was one of two approaches to local solar programs introduced last session to promote the growth of solar energy in Pennsylvania, but in different ways.

House Bill 1161 has been supported by Duquesne Light, the Energy Association of PA and the Edison Electric Institute, traditional electric distribution/ generation groups. Read more here.

The Committee amended the bill before reporting it to the full House.  Neither amendment changed the basic approach to the solar subscriber program.

The bill was then referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

The other approach from last session-- authorizing a community solar program-- House Bill 531 (Kaufer-R- Luzerne) and its companion Senate Bill 705 (Scavello-R- Monroe) from last session reintroduced as Senate Bill 472 by Sen. Scavello this session-- has been supported by the Pennsylvania Conservative Energy Forum, the Coalition for Community Solar Access, Community Energy and other groups.  Read more here.

Solar energy companies said $2 billion worth of investments were waiting for this legislation to pass. Read more here.

These community solar bills have been introduced and reintroduced in the General Assembly over the last three sessions, since 2018.

At the end of last session, the former Majority Chair of the Committee Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford) encouraged the groups to get together to see if they could work out language for a single bill.

That has not happened.

Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the House Consumer Affairs Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-260-6432 or sending email to: jmarshal@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. 

Related Article To This Bill:

-- House Committee Hears Comments On Bill Authorizing Local Solar Energy Subscriber Programs

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-- Sen. Scavello Introduces Bill Authorizing Community Solar Projects; $2 Billion Worth Of Projects Waiting For It To Pass

[Posted: April 19, 2021]  PA Environment Digest