The Committee postponed action on House Bill 2277 (Otten-D-Chester), the PA Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) is the Governor’s Energy Plan that would diversify energy generation, improve grid reliability, lower consumer costs by avoiding energy price spikes and create energy-related jobs.
Solar Decommissioning
Senate Bill 211 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would set decommissioning standards for utility-scale solar energy facilities that reflect current best practices of the solar industry in Pennsylvania.
The bill is far different from the legislation Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) introduced in 2021-- Senate Bill 284-- when this concept was first discussed.
As a result, Senate Bill 211 is now supported by the solar energy industry working in the state.
Requiring bonding and a decommissioning plan for when solar energy facilities reach the end of their useful life is a unique approach to electric generation facilities.
Coal and natural gas-fired power plants that represent 91% of Pennsylvania’s electric generation capacity have nothing remotely like these requirements. As a result, when they reach the end of their usefulness, communities are left with the considerable challenge of what to do with them.
Nuclear power plants do have decommissioning requirements and have to set aside funds when they are operating for decontamination and decommissioning.
Food Processing Waste
The Committee approved amendments to both the food processing waste bills--
-- House Bill 2393 (Friel-D-Chester) setting standards for the storage or land application of food processing residual waste on farms. An amendment is expected.
-- House Bill 2594 (Friel-D-Chester) providing for the certification of food processing residual waste haulers and brokers.
The legislation approved by the Committee was reported to the full House and Tabled.
Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net. Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5075 or by sending email to: mcauser@pahousegop.com.
(Photo: Penn State University Franklin County solar energy facility.)
Related Articles:
-- House Environmental Committee Moves Solar Energy Facility Decommissioning Best Practices; Food Processing Waste Bills [PaEN]
-- PennFuture: Lawmakers Move Bill To Require Clean Solar Energy Facilities To Have Bonds; But Fail To Have Adequate Plugging Bonds For Dirty Oil & Gas Wells Leaving Taxpayers To Pick Up The Cost [PaEN]
-- Stroud Water Research Center Receives $141,000 Grant From Green Mountain Energy Sun Club For New 55-Kilowatt Rooftop Solar Energy System [PaEN]
-- Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority Receives $75,000 West Penn Energy Fund Grant For Solar Energy Array; Will Save $2 Million Over 25 Years; Power Renewable Gas Facility [PaEN]
NewsClip:
-- WITF StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Solar Energy Companies Would Need Plan For Eventual Cleanup Under Bill In State House
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Flips Switch On First Of 3 Massive Solar Energy Projects In Fayette, Somerset Counties To Add 43 MW To PJM Grid
-- WITF StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Solar Co-Op Aims To Lower Cost For Rooftop Solar In Dauphin, Cumberland Counties
[Posted: October 1, 2024] PA Environment Digest
