Feb 14 legislative hearing in Harrisburg
By E. Hoffman
After a decade of trying, advocates hope this will be the year Pennsylvania passes legislation to allow community solar.
Third Act PA was among those submitting testimony in favor of HB1842, which would allow community solar in our state. (Here are links to the written testimony, including Third Act PA’s, and to a recording of the hearing of the House Consumer Protection, Utility, and Technology Committee.) Supporters include nonprofits, labor organizations, industry, farmers and other landowners, as well as lawmakers from both parties.
“In a nutshell, what we are hoping to accomplish is to democratize … access to owning [electricity] generation,” said Peter Schweyer (D-Allentown), the bill’s sponsor.
Elowyn Corby, the Mid-Atlantic Region director for Vote Solar, was optimistic after the hearing. “This committee hearing was a strong indication that the community solar ship is seaworthy, and that there’s a growing wind behind its sails,” she said in an email.
Several lawmakers and advocates expressed a sense of urgency, both because Pennsylvania is “behind the 8 ball” and because of funding available for community solar in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Rooftop solar is out of reach for many Pennsylvanians, either because of cost, roof orientation or because they are renters. Community solar, though, allows anyone to get the benefits of solar energy without putting panels on the roof. Instead, residents and businesses can become members of a local solar energy project that adds renewable energy to the electricity grid. Subscribers still pay their utility company, but they get credits for a share of the solar energy added to the grid, typically saving 5%-15% on their bill.
Community solar is allowed and even encouraged in 22 states and the District of Columbia. All but six states have at least one community solar project. Pennsylvania is among the outliers.
During her testimony, Elizabeth Van Holt, the new markets director of the Coalition for Community Solar Access, called community solar the “sweet spot” between individual rooftop solar and utility-scale solar. It can be installed, for example, on commercial rooftops, brownfields and underutilized farmland.
Trade unions were also enthusiastic. Even as they embraced an all-of-the-above approach to energy, they were all in on community solar.
“We’re waaaay behind on clean energy,” said Robert Bair, secretary of the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council. “To not take this bill up is going to continue to set Pennsylvania back. We need a balanced portfolio. We also need to start a real commitment to renewables.”
The beauty of community solar, he said, is that it can ramp up quickly while benefitting every county: “This is not a Democratic bill or a Republican bill. …This is a Pennsylvania bill.” He spoke of a “dual crisis” related to energy and the environment. “We’re going to be short on power in about 2028,” he said. “And we need to start fixing the environment. … You cannot deny climate change anymore, and this is a good bill.”
“Our position is community solar is going to create jobs for existing members and it’s going to allow us to compete for the next generation of workers,” said Alfred “Buddy” Franklin, recording secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Union #5.
A Penn State study of community solar found that Pennsylvania would attract $1.8 billion in economic benefits, realize annual subscriber savings of $31 million, and create 12,000 jobs, said Leslie Elder, vice president of political and regulatory affairs for Summit Ridge Energy. One of her company’s clients is a fourth-generation farmer whose land straddles Pennsylvania and Maryland. He installed a community solar project on the Maryland side and would like to do the same on his Pennsylvania farm.
Representative Aaron D. Kaufer (R, Luzerne County) said he had been a sponsor of community solar for the last three sessions. “I’m really excited for the progress we’ve made for what I hope will be a vote out of this committee,” he said.
“When we have a hearing on the bill, that means we’re interested in moving a bill,” said committee chair Robert F. Matzie (D, Beaver County), adding that he hopes to get community solar legislation “across the finish line” in the House before adjourning in June.