(Center Square) – A state-funded plan to bring solar power to more residents cleared the Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week.
The proposal suggests using federal subsidies to expand access for renters or those without suitable roofs or land for panels to take advantage of the savings from solar energy.
While the technology is developing in many communities, bill sponsor Allentown Democratic Rep. Peter Schweyer said his area — where renters make up 65% — has row houses and historic districts where solar panels are not feasible.
Not using existing federal grants, Schweyer said, would make the bill less likely to advance in a recent committee hearing. Care was taken to ensure zero negative impact on non-solar ratepayers.
“For years, we’ve been hung up on how to help community solar grow,” he said during Tuesday’s vote. “And many, both inside and outside our chamber, have rightly insisted that the cost of these developments should never be passed on to other ratepayers.”
Critics, however, said the state needs a plan for the future when community solar facilities reach the end of their useful lives and require expensive maintenance.
Rep. Rep. Cathy Rapp, R-Warren, said it’s a lesson the state learned too late about the coal and natural gas industries. Leaving the problem to the next generation, he added, could be environmentally “heavy” at a high cost.
“Our communities need to make sure that Pennsylvania has decommissioning, destruction, reclamation plans and recovery plans in place before solar panels end up in our landfills,” Rapp said.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 111-99. An accompanying financial memo estimates it would cost the state a little over $1.4 million to hire new staff to help facilitate the legislation.
House Bill 1842 is sent to the Senate for consideration.
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