Clean energy receives historic funding

Making progress toward a new energy future

With rising energy costs and global warming making headlines daily, the state Legislature took a historic step toward a new energy future by passing a $650 million alternative energy funding initiative this summer. Unfortunately, the state Senate failed to pass a much-needed energy efficiency initiative before leaving for their summer break (See update below). The new funding package includes $180 million for solar power and $25 million for energy efficiency and green buildings.  While the final funding level was less than PennEnvironment had called for, this was the largest funding increase for clean energy in state history and will help bring cleaner, renewable energy to Pennsylvania in the coming years.

PennEnvironment’s staff and supporters played a critical role in securing the alternative energy funding victory.  On June 10, PennEnvironment held an Environmental Lobby Day in which PennEnvironment members and staff traveled to the state capitol in Harrisburg to urge their legislators to support aggressive clean energy solutions. Throughout May and June, our e-activists bombarded state legislators with e-mails and phone calls urging action on the energy bills, while our staff garnered supportive news coverage from across Pennsylvania.

“For years, state and federal dollars have been going to the same dirty energy sources that got us into our current energy mess,” said PennEnvironment’s Nathan Willcox.  “This new funding package will help level the playing field, and bring more of the clean energy sources online that are critical in the fight against global warming.”

Senate stalls on energy efficiency
But PennEnvironment had also pressed the Legislature to take steps to cut the state’s overall energy use. To this end, the state Senate dropped the ball by failing to pass HB 2200, which would have set up the first statewide energy efficiency program in Pennsylvania history, and cut projected energy use 2.5 percent over the next five years. Many senators pledged to revisit the legislation in the fall, and PennEnvironment will be working to ensure that this critical legislation gains the state Senate’s approval before the legislative session ends.    

PennEnvironment will continue monitoring these initiatives throughout the fall as the legislature returns from their summer recess.

UPDATE: On October 8, in a tremendous victory for Pennsylvania’s environment, the state House and Senate finally passed House Bill 2200.  Gov. Rendell then signed the bill into law on October 15.  This critical legislation was actually strengthened by the Senate in the days before its final passage, so that it will now cut energy use 3 percent by 2013.  This reduction in energy use is expected to cut global warming pollution by an amount equivalent to removing over 1 million cars from the road for a year. Click here to see our press release on the legislature’s action, and click below to see a video of Gov. Rendell signing the bill into law.  Thanks to everyone for helping make this victory happen!

Video of Gov. Rendell signing new energy efficiency bill into law.