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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 26, 2024 11:48 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Vincent J. Hughes and Sen. Camera Bartolotta, Sen. Carolyn T. Comitta |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Solar for Pennsylvania Schools |
| In the near future, we plan on introducing legislation to encourage the use of solar at Pennsylvania schools. This is companion legislation to Representative Fielder’s House Bill 137. Energy for powering public schools is one of the highest costs for school districts and public universities in Pennsylvania. Taxpayers and our climate can benefit from more widespread adoption of solar on school buildings through a targeted investment from the state government. On-site solar can reduce energy costs and save Pennsylvania districts and state universities hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. To encourage solar adoption at public schools, we plan to introduce legislation to create a Pennsylvania Solar for Schools Grant Program. This program will fund solar energy assessments to determine readiness and potential energy savings for public schools and universities. It will also issue grants to schools and institutions of higher education for solar energy projects, including the costs related to the installation of and equipment for a solar energy system. Solar-generated electricity is already the cheapest electricity in history, and in states that support the transition to solar, schools districts and public universities are already benefiting from adopting solar technology. With the savings, local governments can reduce the tax burden, schools can invest in more teachers, and universities can reduce tuition costs. In addition to all those benefits, solar schools projects have immense local benefits: reducing carbon emissions and creating family-sustaining jobs. Please join us in cosponsoring this legislation to benefit our environment, create good jobs, and reduce costs for Pennsylvania taxpayers. |