The bills include-
-- Geothermal Energy: House Bill 2076 (Venkat-D-Allegheny, Williams-R-Chester) to establish a framework for development of clean, safe geothermal energy to meet exploding base load energy demands by a.vote of 118 to 83-- 16 Republicans supporting. [Read more here]
-- Advanced Transmission Line Technology: House Bill 2223 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) requiring the consideration of advanced transmission line technology in transmission projects. [Read more here]
-- Retooling PA Energy Financing Authority: House Bill 2347 (Fiedler-D-Philadelphia) making changes to the authority of the PA Energy Financing Authority to take advantage of available federal funding by a vote of 106 to 95-- 4 Republicans supporting. [Read more here]
Comments on Geothermal
“This legislation will enable us to make bold investments into Pennsylvania’s geothermal resources that we have not been able to use before,” said Rep. Arvind Venkat. “We have been a national leader in energy development, and this legislation would enable us to move forward in the world of clean energy production and create jobs, while also reducing energy costs for consumers.”
The framework in this legislation includes several new developments for geothermal energy, including authorizing the state Department of Environmental Protection to regulate geothermal injection wells with a predictable and responsible permitting framework, establish subsurface ownership rights for geothermal resources, and allow for the repurposing of abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal energy development.
“Pennsylvania faces an electricity crisis as demand rises, and we must focus on increasing generation,” said Rep. Craig Williams. “This legislation creates a path for geothermal energy development by putting existing infrastructure, including legacy oil and gas wells, back into productive use. This bill will strengthen our energy supply and support long-term affordability.”
“As Chair of the House Energy Committee, I am proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation with Reps. Venkat and Williams that will help move Pennsylvania forward with next generation energy technology,” said Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia), Majority Chair of the House Energy Committee. "Amid our energy crisis and the growing need to meet demand, geothermal energy will diversify Pennsylvania's clean energy portfolio and make us more resilient in years to come."
Advanced Power Line Technology
““I believe the work of this Committee is to do everything we can to get more power online, to work to make our grid more reliable and resilient so that we can hopefully avoid some of these worst case scenarios, blackouts, brownouts, bills that are even larger than they are now, things that none of our constituents can possibly afford or be expected to deal with,” said Rep. Fiedler.
“I'm excited for this bill, the Advanced Transmission Technologies bill, because I think it fits into that goal of cutting costs and trying to keep costs as low as possible for people and trying to make as much as we can from our existing grid.
“That in fact is exactly what these ATTs do, preventing the need to run new transmission lines so that we can get as much as possible out of the ones that we have right now.
PA Energy Financing Authority
“There is tremendous money available via the federal government, and those are tax dollars that our constituents sent via their federal taxes to DC. Those are dollars that are available to us if we have a state authority that is able to own projects, and that's exactly what we are trying to do here,” said Rep. Fiedler.
“We are trying to change the language in this authority so that it is able to own projects with the goal of bringing back some of that federal tax money to Pennsylvania for projects to get more energy online.
“I think that last piece, getting more energy online is something that we all say that we would like to do.
“And I believe that we need to do everything we can to make that happen, like I said, with the goal of keeping people's bills as low as possible, making sure they don't go even higher.”
The bills now go to the Senate for consideration.
Resource Links:
-- House Energy Committee Reports Out GeoThermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Technology, Energy Financing Authority Bills [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Geothermal Might Have The Answer For Pennsylvania's Clean Energy Needs - By John Walliser, PA Environmental Council & Kevin Sunday, McNees Wallace & Nurick [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- PA House Passes Bills To Establish Framework For Developing Clean, Safe Geothermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Line Technology, Retooling PA Energy Financing Authority [PaEN]
-- PA House Energy Committee Reports Out Bills To Authorize Virtual Power Plants, Address Connecting New Generation Quickly To Improve Grid Reliability [PaEN]
-- Environmental Advocates Urge Lawmakers To Pass Bills Giving PUC Authority To Regulate Data Centers, Prohibit Nondisclosure Agreements, Promote Clean Energy To Reduce Energy Costs [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Every Community Evaluating An A.I. Data Center Proposal Should Ask - What Financial Instrument Is Posted Before Construction That Guarantees The Site Will Be Remediated If The Facility Becomes Obsolete, Is Abandoned Or Closes? - By PA Data Center Accountability, Carbon County [PaEN]
-- Sen. Laughlin Introduces Resolution Urging PA To Enter Into Multistate Compacts To Oversee Policies, Procedures For Planning, Siting, Construction, Operation Of Interstate Electric Transmission Lines [PaEN]
-- PUC Announces 2 June 30 Hearings On Proposed PPL Utilities Transmission Line Projects In Hazle Twp., Luzerne County Serving Project Hazelnut A.I. Data Centers [PaEN]
-- Public Utility Commission Sets July 10 Telephonic Hearing On PPL Condemnation Of 30 Properties For The Sugarloaf 500/230KV Transmission Line In Luzerne County To Serve Data Centers [PaEN]
-- PA Solar Center: Learn How To Advocate For REAL Energy Independence For PA During Online Workshops June 8, 15 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro Demands A Stop To ‘Excessive’ Electric, Natural Gas, Water Utility Rate Increases, But Has Little Authority To Force Change
-- LancasterOnline: PPL Electric Default Service Customers To See 1.5% Increase In What They Pay For Electricity They Use Starting June 1
-- TribLive Editorial: Rising Electric Bills Leave Pennsylvanians Powerless
-- Pottstown Mercury: Details Emerge About Threats Related To Proposed Twp. Limerick A.I. Data Center Project In Montgomery County; Some Threats Read At Tuesday Meeting https://tinyurl.com/mr4yxm7s [PDF of Article]
-- PA Capital-Star: PJM Grid Manager Says Developers Are Proposing 220 GW Of New Power Projects [Decisions On Which Go Ahead Will Not Be Made Until Feb. 2028, Then They Have To Be Financed, Sited, Built]
-- Utility Dive: PA House Unanimously Passes Bill To Require Utilities To Incorporate Review Of Advanced Transmission Technology In Transmission Line Proposals
-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp. Issues Level 3 Alert, Mandates Action To Address Sudden A.I. Data Center Load Losses
-- Utility Dive: American Electric Power Eyes Exit From PJM, SPP Over Slow Connection Of New Generation In Face Of A.I. Data Center Demand [AEP operates in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, WV In PJM]
[Posted: May 4, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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