PA House Passes Bill To Expand Solar Energy Electric Generation To Warehouses, Distribution Centers

On March 23, the House passed House Bill 1260 (Rusnock (D-Berks) to encourage development of solar energy electricity generation facilities on warehouses and distribution centers by a vote of 101 to 98 -- Republicans opposing.

“The rise of online buying has brought significant changes to the logistics industry across Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock. “It provides us with a unique opportunity to leverage all this space by addressing a challenge that many Pennsylvanians are facing: rising energy costs.”

House Bill 1260 would require that all new warehouses and distribution centers be constructed solar-ready and provide a tax credit for existing warehouses and distribution centers to make any retrofits necessary to become solar-ready.

“These buildings offer ample real estate to advance solar energy, increase Pennsylvania’s share of electricity generated by renewable sources, create high-paying jobs, and lower utility bills for consumers,” said Rep. Rusnock. “The Commonwealth is already a leader in e-commerce; this bill paves the way for us to lead the charge in solar-ready warehouses as well.”

The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PA House Passes Bill To Authorize Public Utility Commission To Regulate A.I. Data Centers To Make Them Pay Their Own Way  [PaEN]

-- PA House Passes Bill To Expand Solar Energy Electric Generation To Warehouses, Distribution Centers 

-- PA Community Organizing Summit On A.I. Data Centers April 18 In Pittsburgh  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Green Group Calls For Halt To A.I. Data Centers In PA Until New Laws Are Passed

-- Pottstown Mercury: Model Data Center Zoning Ordinances Coming To The Fore  [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna County Seeks State Funding To Update Land Use Plan, Zoning Ordinances To Address A.I. Data Centers

-- Scranton Times: Ransom Twp. Planning Commission Discusses A.I. Data Center Ordinance

-- Scranton Times: Archbald, Jessup Boros Postponed A.I. Data Center Hearings

-- Inquirer: How Some PA Townships Fight A.I. Data Center Next Door

-- Inquirer: A.I. Data Centers Are Eyeing Counties Around Philadelphia Drawing Pushback From Residents Across The Region

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County To Get PA Taxpayer Funds For Emergency Planning Related To Restart Of Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers

-- The Daily Item: Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance To Host April 2 A.I. Data Center Discussion In Lewisburg 

-- WVIA: Residents, Elected Officials Want Gov. Shapiro’s PA Permit Fast Track Program To Slow Down When It Comes To A.I. Data Centers

-- Scranton Times: PPL To Hold March 31 Open House On A.I. Data Center Transmission Line, Infrastructure Projects In Archbald, Luzerne County Paid For By Ratepayers  [To Take 3 Years To Build]  [PDF of Article]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Mystery Site For 4.3 GW Natural Gas Power Plant Site In SW PA Has Officials Wondering; Transmission Line Project May Hint At Site 

-- Utility Dive: NextEra To Develop 9.5 GW Of Natural Gas Power Generation In PA, TX [Still No Details Offered On Data Center Projects] 

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: 5-Year Waits And Rising Costs For Natural Gas Generation Turbines Redefining The Energy Market - By Electric Power Research Institute [Utility Industry Group] 

-- Utility Dive: Better Grid Utilization Could Save Customers $170 Billion: Brattle Report

-- AP: President’s Administration’s $1 Billion Taxpayer Settlement With TotalEnergies Blocks 4 GW Of Much-Needed Wind Power Generation, Diverts Funding To Oil, Natural Gas Development

[Posted: March 25, 2026]  PA Environment Digest