PA House Blue-Green Labor, Environmental Caucus Endorses 9-Bill Package To Expand Clean Energy Generation, Strengthen Workforce

On April 13, members of the House Blue-Green Caucus stood with leading labor and environmental advocates to unveil a new package of bills designed to accelerate Pennsylvania’s clean energy production and create union jobs in growing energy sectors.

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.

Related Articles This Week:

-- 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]

-- 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]  

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Anaerobic Digestion On The Farm Conference, June 9-11  [PaEN] 

[Posted: April 14, 2026] PA Environment Digest