The hearing focused on the bill jointly sponsored by Committee Chair Rob Matzie (D-Beaver) and Representative Pete Schweyer (D-Lehigh), House Bill 1842 and included expert testimony from clean energy developers, advocates, and organized labor representatives.
The legislation would enable community solar projects that are accessible to all Pennsylvanians, regardless of their ability to install solar panels on their own roofs.
Current Pennsylvania law prohibits shared residences, apartment buildings or shaded roofs from utilizing solar energy – one of the fastest growing and cheapest forms of energy nationally.
Once an offsite project is operational, participants can subscribe to a portion of the energy generated and receive credit on their electricity bill for the power produced – the same process as if the panels were installed on their own home.
As it now stands, low to moderate income families are unable to enjoy the benefits of solar energy because of the large upfront investments of the projects and because they may not own their home.
These projects, funded through private investment, will create more than 11,000 local jobs including electricians, installers, construction, marketing, and more.
Statewide labor unions have voiced their strong support for community solar programs, including the PA Building Trades in an op-ed by Rob Bair.
Solar Energy Avoids Energy Spikes
Consumers have seen major increases in their utility bills over the past year. Among seven of the largest utilities that serve default-rate energy service in the Commonwealth, all averaged a quarterly increase of over 15% and two (Citizens Electric & PPL) saw increases of over 60% in a nine month span [price increases driven by spikes in natural gas costs].
Solar energy is able to reduce costs to consumers by supplying extra energy to the grid during peak demand on hot days when prices are the highest.
Finally, solar energy is inarguably valuable as the state modernizes its energy portfolio to include more renewable sources – but community solar programs solve another problem faced by Pennsylvanians: what to do with multi generational farmland, brownfields, and reclaimed mining lands.
These projects can be located almost anywhere.
For example, farmers could more aggressively benefit from the cost savings and extra income stream of solar without having to take farmland out of production.
Some ground mounted solar arrays are now being developed as preserves for native plants and pollinators.
“Farming is a labor of love and the next generations don’t necessarily have that same love of sweaty labor. It is becoming less financially feasible without the secondary income,” wrote landowner Michele McBride Casale of Stroudsburg wrote to the Pocono Record. “Solar panels can provide that necessary income by being placed above crops to allow the land to have a dual-use: agriculture and solar. Without the secondary income of solar, many farms will be sold for developments and warehouses, which means more traffic, more pot holes, more stress on roads, schools, police and fire departments. Community solar can be the help farmers need to continue providing food for us and our animals, while helping keep the air clean to breathe and producing clean energy at the same time.”
Similar programs exist in 22 other states, and the projects can be developed by private owners, municipalities and institutions.
“Community solar can play an important role in the Commonwealth’s all-of-the-above approach to energy and unlock significant economic opportunity throughout the state,” said Matt Hargarten, Vice President of Campaigns for CCSA. “We are glad that Pennsylvania lawmakers are moving this bill forward because the longer it stalls, the longer we’ll wait to create family-sustaining jobs, unlock opportunities for farmers, and bring energy choice and bills savings to hard-working families across the state.”
“What we’re trying to do here is democratize generation,” said Rep. Schweyer, to begin the hearing. “If you have a sizable home or even if you have a spare half acre in development, you can easily install solar panels to generate electricity for not only yourself - but maybe, if you’re lucky, enough to sell back to the grid. This has been wildly popular around the state. But in areas like what I represent in Allentown, we have a lot of people in row homes and historic districts where you cannot install solar panels and we have a tremendous amount of people who rent. The concept of community solar is an attempt to co-op a little piece of generation for their use. Solar doesn’t have to be just for big property owners.”
The bill now requires a vote by the Committee, anticipated for March upon the House’s return to regular session. After that, it would be considered by the full floor of the House of Representatives.
Click Here for a video of the Committee hearing.
Committee Follow-Up
In a February 16 statement, Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Beaver), Majority Chair of the Committee said, “We heard a lot of promising information about what community solar could do for PA in terms of job creation, reduced ratepayer costs, greater energy independence and new revenue sources for landowners like farmers.
“But we also heard concerns regarding ensuring that costs are not shifted to customers who choose not to participate.
“Having an all-energy portfolio that isn’t reliant on a single source is important for PA’s energy independence and for ensuring that we continue to export energy now and in the decades to come.
“But, as with all legislation we review, our committee is going to act deliberately and carefully, getting a dialogue moving and ensuring that any legislation we advance is crafted to protect PA consumers.”
Rep. Robert Matzie (D-Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-4444 or sending email to: rmatzie@pahouse.net. Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-260-6432 or sending email to: jmarshal@pahousegop.com.
Related Article - Community Solar:
-- Coalition Applauds Introduction Of Bipartisan Community Solar Energy Legislation [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- PennEnvironment Report Finds PA Lags Behind Many States In Rooftop Solar Facilities, Recommends Policies For Improving Growth [PaEN]
-- Southwest PA Municipal Project Hub Will Help Municipalities In 10 Counties Apply For Historic Federal Funding To Develop Clean, Sustainable Economic Development Projects, Communities [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Energy Essentials: Unraveling Hydrogen Rainbow; Renewable Energy On The Farm; Carbon Markets, Climate-Smart Forestry [PaEN]
[Posted: February 14, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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