This package comes at a crucial moment as energy prices rise, renewable energy sector jobs are under threat, and Pennsylvania continues to rank among the lowest in renewable energy production.
With federal decisions driving up prices, the 58-member Blue-Green Caucus chaired by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) said that Harrisburg must step up to provide real, state-level solutions.
“Pennsylvania is an energy leader, with a highly skilled workforce and the resources and space for energy development: there’s no reason why we should be falling behind states like Texas when it comes to renewable energy production,” said Rep. Fiedler.
This initiative builds upon the foundation of the successful Solar for Schools program. Born from the first Blue-Green collaboration, Solar for Schools projects will soon be lowering energy costs for school districts across the Commonwealth by installing solar panels on roofs using skilled union labor.
This new package seeks to scale that model of cooperation across the entire energy sector.
“The PA Building Trades are all of the above, and these bills are integral to an all-of-the-above strategy,” said Rob Bair, president of the Pennsylvania Build Trades Council. “There is no magic bullet to fix this problem tomorrow; it’s going to take time, but the first step in this process is both sides of the Capitol, Republican and Democrats, coming together to pass this package of bills to prove to the Commonwealth that we’re serious.”
“On behalf of the 700,000 members we represent in Pennsylvania, I want to say that the PA AFL-CIO is extremely excited to partner with the Blue-Green Caucus to push this legislation forward,” said Maurice Cobb, secretary-treasurer of the PA AFL-CIO. “The drain on the grid is increasing day by day while the grid is aging, and we need to come together: we can have clean energy and a sustainable grid.”
“This partnership demonstrates that a strong environmental agenda is also good for workers and for our economy,” said Molly Parzen, executive director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. “By investing in clean energy right here at home, we can deliver a triple win: lowering monthly energy costs for families, creating family-sustaining union jobs and ensuring cleaner air for all Pennsylvanians. This powerful partnership between labor, environmental advocates and our elected leaders in Harrisburg shows that when we work together, we can deliver the real, common-sense change our Commonwealth deserves.”
“The clean energy transition is not an abstract goal. It's electricians, steamfitters, engineers, welders and other skilled trades earning family-sustaining wages and addressing energy affordability in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Robert Routh, Pennsylvania policy director for National Resources Defense Council. “Taken together, the Blue-Green legislative package is pro-worker and pro-consumer, delivering lower utility costs and a cleaner economy while expanding Pennsylvania's role as an energy powerhouse.”
Legislation
The legislation endorsed by the Blue-Green Caucus includes--
-- House Bill 1260 – Expanding Solar Energy Through E-Commerce Growth (Rusnock)
This bill would require all new warehouses and distribution centers to be constructed solar-ready and provides a tax credit to retrofit existing facilities for the same purpose.
-- House Bill 2017 – Reduction of Fees for Small Module Nuclear Reactors and Micro Reactors (Giral)
This bill would remove an unnecessary barrier to the build-out of next-generation nuclear projects by authorizing DEP to lower the nuclear facility fees for small modular reactors (SMR) and microreactor (MR) sites.
-- House Bill 2076 – Establishing Regulations for Geothermal Energy Production (Venkat)
This bill would establish a regulatory framework for geothermal resource production. Providing regulatory certainty will encourage developers of next-generation projects to invest in Pennsylvania.
-- House Bill 1556 – Advanced Clean Manufacturing Tax Credit (Fiedler, Krajewski, Inglis)
This bill would create a tax credit to support businesses using advanced manufacturing processes that reduce energy consumption and emissions.
-- House Bill 1580 – Workplace Protections for Extreme Heat (Fiedler, Haddock)
This bill would establish protections for workers in high-heat conditions, including paid rest breaks and education on the signs of heat illness.
-- House Bill 894 – Veterans Entering Sustainability Sector Program (Webster)
This bill would establish an apprenticeship training and workforce development program to support veterans seeking employment after service by connecting them with jobs in the sustainability sector.
-- House Bill 2347 – Modernizing Pennsylvania's Energy Financing Authority (Fiedler, O'Mara, Dougherty)
This bill would establish an apprenticeship training and workforce development program to support veterans seeking employment after service by connecting them with jobs in the sustainability sector.
-- House Bill 2380 - Grid Scale Battery Storage (Rivera) [to be introduced]
This bill would help stabilize the energy grid by requiring utilities to set targets and procure grid-stabilizing battery storage as part of their resource planning.
-- House Bill 2374 - Siting Reform [to be introduced]
This bill would limit overly restrictive and legally dubious ordinances that enact de facto bans on renewable energy development.
-- Funding Solar for Schools
Renewing funding for the Solar for Schools grant program will bring solar panels to school buildings across Pennsylvania, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels, creating family-sustaining jobs, and saving them money on energy bills.
Click Here for a copy of the announcement. Click Here for a video of the event.
Reactions:
The Energy Association of Pennsylvania, representing the electric and natural gas distribution utilities, issued this statement in reaction to the House Democrats' energy package--
“EAP agrees with state House Democrats that energy affordability must be addressed. Our members are deeply committed to keeping energy service affordable, particularly for low-income households and small businesses.
“We recognize the real pressure that rising energy bills are placing on family budgets across the commonwealth.
“It’s important to clearly explain what drives customer bills. A substantial share of a customer’s monthly bill reflects the cost of electricity and natural gas from generation companies, which utilities do not control.
“These prices, which utilities do not profit from, are set in competitive markets and passed through to customers.
“State policies also have a meaningful impact on what customers pay. Policies that support retail competition, assist low-income households, encourage alternative energy and promote energy efficiency each serve important goals, but affordability depends on how those policies are designed and implemented.
“For example, EAP supports retail electric competition, but experience has shown that without adequate consumer protections, some customers, particularly seniors and low-income households, can end up paying more than they would have under the default service.
“Net metering plays an important and laudable role in supporting solar development, but the current structure can overcompensate generators and shift costs to customers who don’t participate.
“EAP strongly supports programs that protect low-income customers, but expanding these programs without addressing cost impacts can actually increase bills for working families who don’t qualify for assistance.
“Getting affordability right requires policies that reduce costs rather than shifting them.”
PA Oil & Gas Industry/Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 4 to 17: Failed To Restore 5 Water Impoundments For 3,197 Days; Software Glitch Leaks 704,000 Gallons Of Fresh Water; 166,729 Gallons Recovered From Wastewater Spill [PaEN]
-- DEP Investigating Possible Software Malfunction That Released An Estimated 704,000 Gallons Of Fresh Water From Coterra Energy Shale Gas Water Impoundment In Springville Twp., Susquehanna County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Frontier Natural Resources Failed To Restore 5 Water Impoundments At 3 Shale Gas Drilling Sites In Clinton County For 3,197 Days [PaEN]
-- TheDerrick.com: Who Will Pay The Water Bill? Aqua Pennsylvania Is 'Evaluating Its Options’ For Recovering Money It Spent Operating The Venango Water Company From Oil & Gas Well Owner After Wastewater Spill [PaEN]
-- Residents Around MarkWest Harmon Creek Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant In Washington County Urge DEP To Deny A New Air Quality Permit Because Of Frequent, Ongoing Black Smoke, Incomplete Combustion Violations At The Plant’s Natural Gas/Chemical Flare [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - April 18 [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues 2nd Air Quality General Permit For Diesel-Fired Nonroad Engines At Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus In Indiana County
-- DEP published notice in the April 18 PA Bulletin announcing the rescission of the Standards and Guidelines for Identifying, Tracking and Resolving Oil and Gas Violations technical guidance and posting a Standard Operating Procedure with the same name and posted on DEP’s website.
-- DEP published notice in the March 28 PA Bulletin announcing the rescission of a technical guidance document Civil Penalty Assessments in the Oil and Gas Management Program and posting with separate Civil Penalty Assessment Standard Operating Procedures for conventional oil and gas well owners and shale gas well owners that have now been posted on DEP’s website.
-- DEP Posted 76 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In April 18 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of Wastewater Permit For Restart Of Constellation Energy’s Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant In Dauphin County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Encroachment Permit For Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission, LLC Project To Rebuild Power Lines To Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant In Dauphin County [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On Stormwater Permit For SNA North LLC/QTS A.I. Data Center Project In Salem Twp., Luzerne County [PaEN]
-- DEP published notice in the April 18 PA Bulletin inviting comments on an Individual Stormwater permit covering 25.87 acres of the Keystone Appalachian Transmission Company (FirstEnergy) Stoney Springs Junction 138kV transmission line project located in Salem Twp., Westmoreland County. (PA Bulletin, page 2143)
Related Articles This Week - Energy:
-- House Energy Committee Reports Out GeoThermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Technology, Energy Financing Authority Bills [PaEN]
-- PA House Passes Bills To Develop Model Zoning Ordinance To Help Local Governments Regulate, Mitigate The Impacts Of A.I. Data Center Developments; Report Water, Energy Use [PaEN]
-- PA House Blue-Green Labor, Environmental Caucus Endorses 9-Bill Package To Expand Clean Energy Generation, Strengthen Workforce [PaEN]
-- Spotlight PA: Gov. Shapiro Repeats Threat To Pull Pennsylvania Out Of PJM Regional Grid Operator, If Electricity Costs Keep Rising
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - April 20 [PaEN]
-- Shapiro Administration Secures $14 Million From US DOE For Enhanced GeoThermal Systems Pilot Demonstration Project In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- US Dept. Of Energy Announces $14 Million To Support DEP Project For Enhanced Shale Gas Well GeoThermal Demonstration In Pennsylvania [PaEN]
-- Report: President Canceled 28.2 Gigawatts Of US Electric Generation- Funding For 13 Gigawatts Lost In Pennsylvania- In Face Of Unprecedented A.I. Data Center Demand, Grid Reliability Concerns [PaEN]
-- DEP Linkedin: Oil & Gas Program Sets Inspection Record In 2025, Including 5,213 Wells Never Inspected Before, Responded To 674 Complaints, Incidents [PDF of Article]
-- Mountain Watershed Association Appeals 90% Reduction In Mine Subsidence Damage Bond For Rustic Ridge Coal Mine In Westmoreland, Fayette Counties From $3.1 Million To $292,679 [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Watershed Low-Flow Conditions Trigger Stop To Shale Gas Drilling Water Withdrawals At 19 Locations, 13 More Approaching Restrictions [PaEN]
-- PA House Passes 3rd Natural Gas Safety Bill After Fatal Reading Chocolate Factory Explosion [House Bill 1522]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PA Electric Utilities Appreciate ‘Market Signals,’ But Not Market Prices; Some Utilities Want More Direct Role In Securing Power, Managing Prices For Customers
-- PECO Withdraws Proposed 12.5% Electric, 11.4% Natural Gas Rate Increases From PUC Consideration [PaEN]
-- PUC Opens Investigation Into UGI Electric Proposed 12.8% Rate Increase [PaEN]
-- PUC To Investigate Proposed 13.1% Rate Increase Request by Peoples Natural Gas [PaEN]
-- PUC Modifies UGI Gas Settlement To Require More Direct Support To Customers Impacted By Improper Service Terminations
-- PUC Marks April As Safe Digging Month
-- Penn State Extension Hosts Anaerobic Digestion On The Farm Conference, June 9-11 [PaEN]
-- PennFuture June 4 Energy Dialogue 2026 - Growing A Sustainable Energy Economy In Pennsylvania To Be Held In Hershey [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Energy Essentials News: Data Centers Q/A; National Biogas Conference; Tips For Picking Reputable Solar Developer
NewsClips:
-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Philadelphia Gas Works Proposed LNG Natural Gas Plant Replacement In Port Richmond Neighborhood Now In Limbo
-- Reuters: Williams CEO Says PA-NY Constitutional Natural Gas Pipeline Could Be Online In 2027
-- EPA, DOE, DOI Break Ground On Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement Natural Gas Pipeline Taking PA Gas Into New York City
-- The Guardian: Top Oil, Natural Gas Companies Set To Make An Extra $234 Billion By End Of 2026
-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: As Tech Groups Predict Huge Pennsylvania A.I. Data Center Growth, Critics Say Some Bills Would Reduce Local Control; One State Senator Plans 3-Year Moratorium
-- PennLive/LehighValleyLive: Republican Sen. Coleman Calls For Giving Local Governments Authority To Put A Moratorium On A.I. Data Centers While They Revise Zoning Ordinances
-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: Electric Transmission Line Company Wants Authority To Condemn Property From PA PUC For Proposed Power Line In SW PA To Feed A.I. Data Centers In Virginia
-- Gov. Shapiro Demanded, And PECO Withdrew Its 12.5% Electric, 11.4% Natural Gas Rate Increase Saving PA Consumers $510 Million
-- WHYY: PECO Withdraws Its Rate Hike Case After Backlash From PA Governor, Lawmakers
-- Inquirer: PECO Withdraws Request For Double-Digit Rate Hike, After Facing Backlash
-- Post-Gazette: Solar Energy Facility To Help Offset Energy Costs Of 4 Pittsburgh Schools
-- LancasterOnline: Muddy Run Pump Storage Hydroelectric Plant To Test Warning Sirens In Lancaster, York Counties April 23
-- Center For Rural Pennsylvania April 17 Hearing On A.I. Data Centers, Coolidge Theatre At The Deane Center, Wellsboro, Tioga County
-- Breathe Project - April 20 Webinar On When Air Kills - Pittsburgh’s Hidden PM2.5 Particulate Toll, 7:00 p.m.
-- Better Path Coalition To Host May 13 A.I. Data Centers Virtual Town Hall Meeting, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
-- The Hill: US DOE Secretary Predicts Energy Prices May Rise, Hit Peak In ‘Next Few Weeks’
[Posted: April 14, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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