Editorial
With the start of summer upon
us, the heat is on for state legislators to wrap up lots of unfinished business
before they adopt a budget - hopefully - and go into recess at the start of
July.
Among the initiatives on which action is being sought are
two proposals intended to cut energy use, reduce consumer costs and invest more
in clean, renewable energy sources.
House Bill 2200 and Special Session House Bill 1 were passed by the House of
Representatives in February and March and are languishing in Senate committees.
The bills would provide consumers tools to proactively control their energy
usage, as well as provide incentives to further green energy programs and grow
green energy industry in the Commonwealth.
"From the environmental perspective, these bills are a no-brainer for
Pennsylvania," said Nathan Willcox, energy and clean air advocate with
PennEnvironment.
"In order to tackle global warming and cut air pollution, we need to cut
our energy use and invest more in clean, renewable energy sources."
House Bill 2200 would:
--create energy conservation programs to reduce electricity use by 2.5 percent by
2013;
--cut peak energy demand by 4 percent by 2012;
--provide every electricity customer with a smart meter within 10 years; and
--give customers the choice of three pricing plans: their current plan, a rate
that differentiates between peak and off-peak periods, and an hourly rate.
Special Session House Bill 1 would invest:
--$200 million in solar power (including solar rebates for homes and businesses
that install solar power);
--$25 million in green buildings (to support construction of energy efficient
schools, office buildings, convention centers, hospitals and other structures)
--$5 million in the Home Energy Loan Program (an energy conservation program
administered by the state treasure to help families to use energy smarter and
to lower energy bills);
--$30 million in wind energy (to expand Pennsylvania's wind energy industry); and
--$39 million in consumer rebates (to help families purchase energy efficient
heating and cooling appliances).
The package of bills has bipartisan support and is being recommended by
PennEnvironment and the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Sponsors of the legislation are urging its passage now before utility rate caps
come off, driving energy prices up to consumers.
The wakeup call of fuel prices spiraling out of control should be incentive
enough for the state Senate to act now on this legislation designed to reward
conservation and alternative energy innovations.
Pennsylvania needs this incentive to invest in a cleaner, greener future.
