Posted: | October 3, 2023 03:18 PM |
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From: | Senator Lisa M. Boscola |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Renewable Energy & Warehouse Solar Procurement Act |
In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation encouraging additional renewable energy sources in the Commonwealth. Our current energy standards through the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act (AEPS) capped in 2020 and without additional requirements through legislation we will remain stagnant in our renewable energy requirements. My legislation will amend Title 66 (Public Utility Code) to require Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) to procure alternative energy credits (AEC) attributable to AEPS Tier I resources for 7% of retail sales within their territory by 2032. This would bring the total amount of AECs procured to be 15% of retail sales in the Commonwealth. Additionally, this legislation will require utility and rooftop solar to be equivalent of 5.5% of retail sales within an EDC service territory. The current standard is 0.5%. Furthermore, upon the recommendation of the Public Utility Commission, we will close the Hommrich loophole by limiting net metering to customer-generator’s system designed to generate no more than 110% of the customer-generators requirements for electricity. However, it removes the requirement that a virtual net metered project be located within two miles of the boundaries of the customer-generator’s property; thereby allowing flexibility for projects 3 Mega Watts or less. Lastly, we will prohibit solar colocation of virtual net metering systems, except for systems placed on warehouses, brownfields, capped landfills, and parking facility canopies, thus allowing systems on these preferred sites to gain greater economies of scale. It is time that we recognize the urgency to invest in additional renewable energy in Pennsylvania, and a commonsense approach that is attainable is the best way to move forward. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important initiative. |
Introduced as SB1040