State Sens. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia), Thomas H. Killion (R- Chester and Delaware counties) and Steven J. Santarsiero (D-Bucks) plan to introduce legislation that would expand the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act (AEPS).
The bill will include three changes: expanding the AEPS Tier I requirement from 8 percent to 30 percent by 2030, including 7.5 percent for in-state grid-scale solar and 2.5 percent for in-state distributed generation solar; directing the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to study the benefits of a renewable energy storage program; and provide electricity customers cost control protections including long-term contracting.
The changes are aimed at addressing global climate change.
“We no longer have the luxury of time,” Santarsiero said. “If we are going to reverse global climate change we need to act boldly and we need to act now. This bill does that while at the same time creating thousands of sustainable jobs right here in Pennsylvania that otherwise will go to other states.”
Pennsylvania has fallen behind neighboring states, the senators said. Pennsylvania has an energy goal of 8 percent by 2021 for renewable energy goals while Maryland has set the goal of 25 percent by 2025, and New Jersey has a goal of 50 percent by 2030.
The Clean Power PA Coalition supports the bill.