PRINTER'S NO. 703
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
711
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SMITH, FONTANA, TEPLITZ, YUDICHAK, SCHWANK,
BREWSTER, TARTAGLIONE AND COSTA, APRIL 8, 2015
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, APRIL 8, 2015
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.
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* * *
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 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:
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(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.
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