House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) $156 million dollars for their application for a low-income residential solar installation program under the federal Solar for All grant competition. Forty-nine states were awarded funds, with the specific program goal of saving low-to-moderate income households at least 20% on their electricity bills by adopting solar. With Solar for All funds, PEDA will increase the availability and accessibility of solar energy to low-income homes in rural, suburban, and urban areas across the Commonwealth.

However, under current Pennsylvania law, approval of the legislature is needed before PEDA can access and use these federal funds. Soon I will be introducing a bill that would allow the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority to use the money it was awarded in the competition to ensure energy savings for low-to-moderate Pennsylvanians.

The Pennsylvania Solar for All Program would finance solar installations for over 12,000 households over a 5-year program period. By assisting homeowners in making the switch to solar, we can help Pennsylvanians lower their household energy bills and stimulate the economy through new clean energy projects. The Solar for All award includes funding for workforce development training programs in the energy industry as well as home repairs to enable a home to go solar. Solar for All will grow the local solar industry and contribute to the development of a strong Pennsylvania energy workforce.

The program is fully funded by federal dollars. No state funding is required. However, without swift legislative action, these funds are at risk of never reaching the low-income Pennsylvanians they are intended to serve. At a time when energy demand is rising, we cannot waste an opportunity to utilize tens of millions in federal funding to generate more energy, enable home repairs, and bring critical savings to Pennsylvania citizens.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to ensure that Pennsylvania will save taxpayers’ money on energy costs and create valuable local jobs.