Ciresi legislation seeks tax holiday for water, energy conservation

HARRISBURG, Feb. 10 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, this week introduced legislation that would encourage Pennsylvanians to conserve water and energy, help the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Specifically, H.B. 461 would promote the purchase and use of WaterSense and Energy Star products by annually excluding those products from sales and use taxes from April 22 (Earth Day) through April 29.

“Water conservation and energy efficiency are well-recognized as bringing countless benefits, including conserving precious resources, saving money for consumers, lowering system costs through decreased demand, and reducing environmental impact and pollution,” Ciresi said. “Purchasing a WaterSense or Energy Star product is an investment in conservation and utility savings, but we can do more to encourage families to make this switch.” 

Ciresi noted that the WaterSense and Energy Star programs already provide a significant benefit for conservation efforts, helping American families and businesses save over 4.4 trillion gallons of water and 4.5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity since their inception, saving hundreds of billions of dollars in utility costs in the process. 

The average family of four in the United States uses approximately 400 gallons of water every day, Ciresi added. 

After introduction Tuesday, H.B. 461 was referred to the House Finance Committee for further review. It had previously been introduced during the 2019-20 legislative session by recently retired Rep. Steve McCarter, D-Montgomery, but did not advance out of committee. 

For more information, contact Ciresi’s office at (484) 200-8265.