PRINTER'S NO. 3557
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
236
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY RABB, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ, HERRIN, WEBSTER AND
CIRESI, OCTOBER 17, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
OCTOBER 17, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study on the feasibility of constructing geothermal systems
in densely populated locations of this Commonwealth and to
issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the
General Assembly.
WHEREAS, Geothermal technology, commonly referred to as
ground-source heat pump technology, consists of running pipes
filled with antifreeze liquid as far as 500 feet into the
ground, to a depth at which the temperature is relatively
stable, usually lingering in the low 50ยบ Fahrenheit range; and
WHEREAS, Heat is then extracted from the earth and carried
through the liquid-filled pipes to warm buildings; and
WHEREAS, The same principle also allows for geothermal
cooling; and
WHEREAS, On hot days, a heat pump extracts heat from the air
in the building and transfers that heat energy into the liquid
in the pipes, which then travels downward where the heat is
dispersed into the ground; and
WHEREAS, Geothermal systems are among the cleanest and most
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efficient heating options since the heating and cooling process
uses ground temperatures, often only utilizing fossil-fuel-based
energy to generate the electricity that is needed to operate
heat pumps; and
WHEREAS, Utilizing geothermal ground-source heat pump
technology on individual properties can be expensive, which
poses a significant barrier to widespread adoption; and
WHEREAS, The concept of establishing geothermal
microdistricts is a means of overcoming these financial
barriers, since this concept involves connecting multiple
customers on a shared loop system; and
WHEREAS, This would not only allow the overall cost to be
spread out and evenly shared, but would provide utility
companies with the ability to gradually transition away from the
use of fossil fuels while offering new services; and
WHEREAS, Natural gas utility providers already have extensive
experience with drilling, trenching and laying pipe as well as
managing capital-intensive projects and investments in long-term
assets, which would make the natural gas utility providers well
suited to developing large-scale multi-property geothermal
systems; and
WHEREAS, As such, if geothermal microdistricts proved
feasible, this could be transformative for advancement of zero
carbon energy, while also lessening this Commonwealth's reliance
on foreign fossil fuels; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study on the
feasibility of constructing geothermal systems in densely
populated locations of this Commonwealth and to issue a report
of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly; and
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be it further
RESOLVED, That the study:
(1) identify and examine efforts, procedures, measures,
statutes and management responsibilities of State agencies,
nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions to
assist in determining the feasibility of utilizing geothermal
energy for the purpose of establishing geothermal
microdistricts;
(2) conduct an economic impact analysis regarding the
widespread utilization of geothermal energy for the purposes
of establishing geothermal microdistricts in this
Commonwealth; and
(3) identify best practices regarding the development of
the necessary infrastructure to support the widespread use of
geothermal microdistricts for the production of geothermal
energy;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission consult
with stakeholders that:
(1) have organizational missions and expertise regarding
consumer affairs, the economy, electricity generation and
distribution, the environment, the reduction of carbon
emissions, the health and safety of Commonwealth residents,
natural gas utility providers, air and water quality issues,
consumer affairs and urban affairs;
(2) collect data on any benefits of the utilization of
geothermal energy regarding consumer affairs, the economy,
electricity generation and distribution, the environment, the
reduction of carbon emissions, the health and safety of
Commonwealth residents, consumer utility prices, air and
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water quality issues and urban affairs; and
(3) have knowledge of relevant issues;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission prepare
a report of its findings and recommendations and submit the
report to the General Assembly no later than 18 months after the
adoption of this resolution.
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