In a public hearing today, Pennsylvania lawmakers talked about PRESS- a policy goal to have 35% of the state's energy come from clean or renewable sources by 2035.

Pennsylvania is the number three producer of electricity in the entire U.S.. But they rank 45th in renewable energy sources. Demand for clean and renewable energy is growing as climate change concerns increase.

"States that surround us- New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia- they are asking for more clean energy in our electricity generation," said Rep. Danielle Friel Otten (D-155). She spoke at today's House Environmental Resources and Energy committee hearing.

Friel Otten is the bill sponsor of HB 2277 which is called the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard- PRESS for short. It would require 35% of Pennsylvania's electric supply to be clean energy by 2035.

"If Pennsylvania doesn't increase our renewable energy and our clean energy sources in our generation mix, we are going to lose market share," said Friel Otten.

Governor Josh Shapiro introduced the proposal for PRESS (and another program called PACER, which would be a state specific carbon cap program like RGGI) back in March.

PRESS is an expansion of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) act passed in 2004. That act created two tiers of energy sources and required 8% of the state's electric supply to come from Tier 1 and 10% from Tier 2 by 2021.

The state met that goal, and as of 2023 the PA Public Utility Commission reports the state gets a little more than 18% of its electric supply from qualified alternative energy sources.

To note, not all clean or alternative energy sources qualify as renewable. For example, the Tier 1 list from AEPS included:

Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy, wind power, low-impact hydropower, geothermal energy, biologically derived methane gas, fuel cells, biomass energy, and coal mine methane.

Tier 2 included:

Waste coal, distributed generation systems, demand-side management, large-scale hydropower, municipal solid waste, generation of electricity utilizing by-products of the pulping process and wood manufacturing process, and integrated combined coal gasification technology.

PRESS updates the energy sources on Tier 1 and Tier 2, and creates a new Tier 3 (click here and scroll to page 15 to see tier lists)

It also raises the standard. While Pennsylvania's 18% of alternative energy comes from Tier 1 & Tier 2, PRESS wants 35% from Tier 1 (clean energy), 10% from Tier 2 (sustainable) and 5% from Tier 3 (low-emission).

If PRESS got signed into law, it would fine electric supply companies who do not meet the clean energy ratio targets. In a hearing today, advocates said the policy would expand market demand for alternative energy.

"PRESS is Pennsylvania sending a clear signal to the clean energy industry that, like you know, hey, We want your services. We want the generation you're providing here," said Nick Bibby, a principal for Advanced Energy United in Pennsylvania.

A Republican lawmaker at the hearing said they aren't opposed to renewable energy, but have concerns on out of state producers getting benefits with how legislation is currently written.

The minority chair of the also had points.

"My concerns are the impacts of mandates and on grid stability," said Rep. Martin Causer (R- 67), minority chair of Environmental Resources & Energy Committee.

Friel Otten maintains that expanding the clean energy market can create economic development in a diverse amount of Pennsylvania communities... and be cheaper in the long
run.

"Infrastructure is expensive to build, [but] once that infrastructure is up and running, it is the most affordable energy," said Friel Otten.

Read the full article here.