THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY FERLO, COSTA, TARTAGLIONE, FARNESE, ERICKSON, BREWSTER, FONTANA, HUGHES, YUDICHAK AND LEACH, JUNE 14, 2011

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JUNE 14, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of July 9, 2008 (1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1),

entitled "An act providing for alternative sources of energy;

establishing the Alternative Energy Development Program, the

Consumer Energy Program, the Home Energy Efficiency Loan

Program, the Home Energy Efficiency Loan Fund and the

Alternative Energy Production Tax Credit Program; and

providing for the powers and duties of the Department of

Environmental Protection," providing for the definition of

"residential building"; and further providing for the

Commonwealth Financing Authority.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 102 of the act of July 9, 2008 (1st

Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1), known as the Alternative Energy

Investment Act, is amended by adding a definition to read:

Section 102.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

* * *

"Residential building."  A building containing at least one

dwelling unit occupied by at least one tenant.

* * *

Section 2.  Section 307(b) and (c) of the act are amended to

read:

Section 307.  Commonwealth Financing Authority.

* * *

(b)  Renewables.--The sum of [$25,000,000] $15,000,000 shall

be allocated by the authority for loans or grants to projects

related to geothermal technologies, including geothermal heat

pump systems that use the ground, groundwater and underground

mine water as a thermal energy source, or wind energy projects,

including manufacturing facilities for wind turbines and other

energy components.

(c)  High performance buildings.--

(1)  The sum of $25,000,000 shall be allocated by the

authority for loans or grants to one of the following to meet

energy efficient standards under paragraph (2):

(i)  A [small] business, including a small business, 

for the construction or renovation of a building for the

use of [the small] a business.

(ii)  An individual for the construction or

renovation of a dwelling if the individual does or will

occupy the dwelling as his primary residence.

(iii)  A business, including a small business, or an

individual for the construction or renovation of a

residential building.

(2)  The Department of General Services shall adopt

standards for the certification of a high performance

building under this act, to include the following:

(i)  Establishing high performance, nationally

recognized categories to achieve the following:

(A)  Optimize the energy performance of

buildings.

(B)  Increase the use of and demand for

environmentally preferable building materials,

furnishings and finishes.

(C)  Improve environmental quality and conserve

natural resources in this Commonwealth.

(D)  Select appropriate sites.

(E)  Reduce pollutants and waste generation.

(F)  Other criteria as required by the Department

of General Services.

(ii)  Requiring documentation to substantiate

compliance with the guidelines.

(iii)  Requiring third-party, postconstruction review

and verification.

* * *

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.