PA Environment Digest Blog: House Democrats Move 2 More Parts Of Governor’s Lightning Energy Plan In Position For Vote To Address Unprecedented Energy Challenges

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

House Democrats Move 2 More Parts Of Governor’s Lightning Energy Plan In Position For Vote To Address Unprecedented Energy Challenges

On October 29, House Democrats moved two more parts of the Governor’s Lightning Energy Plan into position for a vote when the House returns to session after the election on November 17.

The two bills are House Bill 501 (Otten-D-Chester) establishing the PA Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) based on the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard and House Bill 505 (Donahue-D-Lackawanna) updating Act 129 utility energy efficiency programs were removed from the Table and placed on the House voting Calendar.

In May, the House passed two other Lightning Plan bills--

-- House Bill 500 (Inglis-D-Allegheny) -- the Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Tax Credit to develop new clean, reliable and affordable electric generation facilities.

-- House Bill 504 (Schweyer-D-Leigh)-- the Community Energy Act, which would allow ratepayers to benefit from community solar and renewable energy facilities.

Click Here for an overview of the Lightning Plan announced in January 2025 ahead of the Governor’s 2025-26 proposed state budget.

The January announcement was built on the energy plan unveiled by the Governor in March 2024 [PACER and PRESS], which was estimated protect and create nearly 15,000 energy jobs, lowering utility bills for households, and taking real action to address carbon pollution.

Unprecedented Energy Challenges

The stampede to develop A.I. data centers is putting unprecedented pressure on the electric grid to bring new sources of electric generation into play and reduce energy demand and the Governor’s Lightning Energy Plan will help do that.

Electric ratepayers are already paying the price for the lack of effective action on regional grid issues as the PJM Market Monitor group reported last week-- $16.6 billion in increased electricity costs in the last year as a result of projected data center demand in the PJM regional grid. Read more here.

Gov. Shapiro’s 2024 lawsuit against the PJM Interconnection put a cap on wholesale electric auction prices PJM runs that saved consumers an estimated $21 billion in the PJM grid, but only for auctions in 2025 and 2026. Read more here.

On November 6, the Public Utility Commission is expected to take action on a model tariff for connecting large load - A.I. Data Centers-- that will give some protection to electric ratepayers, according to Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank. Read more here.

However, witnesses at an October 22 House Energy Committee hearing said other steps are needed, including--

-- Require data centers to bring their own generation - PJM Market Monitor, PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Authorize the PUC to set conditions for allowing centers to be served by the grid - PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Require center contributions to Universal Service Assistance Programs and LIHEAP to reduce the impact of electricity prices increases on lower income ratepayers - PA Utility Law Project

-- Need to prioritize existing loads and ratepayers on the grid - PJM Market Monitor, PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Require centers to take electrical service on an interruptible basis during supply shortage periods - PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Authorize the PUC to set power curtailment priorities - PA Consumer Advocate, PA Utility Law Project

-- Encourage backup generation at centers other than diesel to reduce environmental impacts - PA Consumer Advocate

Continuing To Do Nothing Isn’t An Option

In March, Shapiro had this to say to legislators who just want to attack him and his plan.

“Listen, these representatives and senators [sponsoring the Lightning Plan], they're doing something, but sadly, there are too many that just want to do nothing right now.

“But I'm here to tell you, doing nothing is no longer an option in Pennsylvania.

“There are real consequences to doing nothing.

“For those who just want to complain and not get off the sidelines and get in the game, well, here's what's going to happen if they get their way.

“Consumers are going to pay a whole lot more on their energy bills.

“We won't create more jobs, we won't have more colleagues working with you here at Voith or other similar types of facilities, and we won't have more opportunities for businesses and labor unions to evolve and to be able to grow.

“That's what happens if we do nothing, pure stagnation and Pennsylvania falls further behind.

“By choosing to do nothing, we've got more pollution in our air and damage to our communities.

“By choosing to do nothing, as some would have us do, they are choosing to be less competitive.

“Now, hear me on this. I'm a sports guy. I am competitive as hell. I want to win every game. I want to win every day.

“I want to win this battle for energy dominance in the United States and across the globe, and now is the time to act.

“I've laid out a detailed plan that lawmakers are now going to consider.

“This plan will create jobs. This plan will create opportunity and this plan will allow the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to move forward, building on our rich traditions as an energy producer, capitalizing on great companies like Voith who have been doing this work for over a century and giving us the opportunity to be more competitive, more competitive in our communities, and more competitive in wonderful facilities like this.

“I'm bullish on Pennsylvania's future, but now is the time to take advantage of this moment and act, and we're going to be pushing hard to make sure that gets done.”

(Charts: Patrick Cicero, Of Counsel to the PA Utility Law Project, presentation on July 25.)

Resource Links:

-- Gov. Shapiro Proposes ‘Lightning’ Energy Plan To Increase & Diversify Energy Generation; Reduce Climate Changing Pollution; Lower Energy Costs; Create Jobs [PaEN]

-- House, Senate Members Introduce Gov. Shapiro's 'Lightning' Energy Plan To Lower Energy Costs, Create Jobs, Protect Pennsylvania From Global Energy Instability [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro: Lightning Plan Tax Credit Bill, Community Energy Pass PA House [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Provides Update On The Fight To Lower Energy Prices, Calls On General Assembly To Move His Commonsense Lightning Energy Plan [PaEN]

-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part I: PA Utility Law Project - Utility Terminations Up 30% Already; Prioritize Existing Loads; Centers Need To Help Pay For Utility Assistance [PaEN]

-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part II: PA Consumer Advocate - PUC Should Set Conditions For Centers To Be Served By The Grid; Set Power Curtailment Priorities [PaEN]

-- Data Center Stampede Trampling PA Ratepayers Part III: PJM Market Monitor - Data Centers Have Cost Existing Ratepayers $16.6 Billion Already; Centers Should Bring Their Own Power Generation To Prevent More Large Price Spikes [PaEN]

-- PJM Electric Auction Impacts: 1 In 5 PA Households Report Problems Now Paying Energy Bills; Electric Utility Shutoffs Up 38.1% So Far This Year [PaEN]

-- PJM Electricity Auction: PJM Lost 2.8 Gigawatts Of Power Due To Reduced Reliability Rating Of Natural Gas Power Plants; Could Gain 12.2 Gigawatts By Increasing Reliability From Less Than 75% Now To An Achievable 90% [PaEN]