Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 10, 2013 04:06 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Daylin Leach |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Amendments |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to amend the Commonwealth’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards. This legislation will mirror pending legislation in the House and would increase the share of Pennsylvanian’s electricity that comes from renewable sources. The Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards were passed in 2004 and amended in 2007 and require electric energy distribution companies to sell electricity that is made up of a minimum percentage of Tier I, alternative energy sources such as wind and solar photovoltaic. This legislation would increase the percentage of electricity sold in the Commonwealth that must be generated from Tier I sources. By 2023 it would require that 15% of electricity sold be Tier I. It would also increase the “solar carve-out” from the current 0.5% of electricity sold by 2020 to 1.5% by 2022 and require that the solar energy be generated in Pennsylvania. It is important that Pennsylvania keep pace with neighboring states in developing, generating and consuming renewable electricity in order to remain competitive in the emerging “green economy.” It has been estimated that thousands of jobs a year will be created by a shift away from non-renewable sources. Renewable energy sources reduce greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet and cause increases in costly and deadly extreme weather events. Please join me in ensuring that they are a larger part of our energy supply. |
Introduced as SB1171