PA House & Senate Applauded for Passing HB 2200
Harrisburg, PA - With concerns about global warming and the economy continuing to make headlines across Pennsylvania, the
state House and Senate took a critical step towards addressing both issues
by voting to pass House Bill 2200, a PennEnvironment-backed bill which will establish a new statewide energy efficiency and conservation program. The Senate approved its amended version of the bill this afternoon with a 47-3 vote, and the House later voted 186-4 to concur with the Senate version. The bill will now be sent to Gov. Rendell, who is expected to sign it into law.
“For too long, Pennsylvania's environment and our economy have been losing out because of our runaway energy use,”
said Nathan Willcox, Energy & Clean Air Advocate for
PennEnvironment. “By passing House Bill 2200, the state Senate have helped Pennsylvania take a critical first step towards reaping the environmental and economic benefits of reining in this energy waste.”
House Bill 2200 (HB 2200) requires Pennsylvania utilities to cut
electricity use 1 percent by May, 2011 and 3 percent by May, 2013, as
compared to projected energy use from June, 2009 through May, 2010.
The bill also requires utilities to cut “peak demand” (the 100 hours of
highest energy demand annually) by 4.5 percent by May, 2013, as
compared to peak demand from June, 2007 through May, 2008.
It is estimated that this reduction in electricity use will result in a cut
in projected global warming pollution equivalent to taking
more than 1 million cars off the road for a year. In addition, with
the caps on electricity rates set to expire in the coming years—and
expected rate hikes as high as 60 percent—this bill will help to lessen
the blow of higher electricity rates by lowering overall energy use.
The legislation also includes a set of penalties for utilities that
fail to develop energy reduction plans on time, and for utilities that
fail to meet the energy savings targets. The Senate voted to pass HB 2200 today, the final scheduled day of its 2007-08 legislative session, and PennEnvironment applauded Representatives and Senators for not letting this important proposal be pushed off into the 2009-10 session.
Over the past ten months, PennEnvironment’s citizen activists placed
dozens of phone calls and sent hundreds of emails to state legislators
in support of HB 2200. While many Pennsylvanians have already reaped
savings from energy efficiency and conservation measures in their own
homes and businesses, they also recognize that aggressive action is
needed at the state level.
“Energy efficiency is the cheapest and easiest way to cut pollution
while protecting consumers and businesses from increasing electricity
rates,” said Willcox. “After going far too long without a
statewide plan to cut our energy use, Pennsylvania will now finally have a roadmap in place for a smarter energy future.”
PennEnvironment also urged citizens and consumer advocates to stay
actively engaged in the planned public hearings to review the utilities
energy savings plans, to help ensure that the legislation’s goals
become a reality.
“The legislation’s energy savings targets will not be easy to meet—but
it is critical that the PUC and the state’s utilities work together to
make these goals a reality,” said Willcox.
