Energy Committee hears testimony on Solar for All authorization
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus February 4, 2025 | 3:35 PM
HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Today, the newly established House Energy Committee held a public hearing to consider legislation (H.B. 362) introduced by Committee Chairwoman Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., authorizing a Solar for All program.
In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) $156 million for a low-income residential solar installation program under the federal Solar for All grant competition. The funding would be used to increase the availability and accessibility of solar energy to low-income homes in rural, suburban and urban areas across the commonwealth, lowering household energy bills by at least 20% and creating Pennsylvania jobs.
Fiedler said the program is fully funded by federal dollars and that a contract has been signed between PEDA and the EPA to implement the program. No state funding is required. However, legislative approval is required to release the funds. Without swift legislative action, the money is at risk of never reaching the low-income Pennsylvanians it is intended to serve.
“Despite some uncertainty from the federal government, it is important to have this hearing. $156 million dollars is not a small amount of money,” Fiedler said. “We can all agree that Pennsylvanians deserve reliable energy and utility bills they can afford to pay. Today we’re tasked with deciding whether we feel this program will accomplish those goals.”
The Solar for All program guarantees participants at least 20% savings on their electricity bills, providing immediate financial relief for families struggling to pay rising energy costs.
Geoff Bristow, chief operating officer of PEDA, submitted written testimony ahead of the hearing. Bristow said that if PEDA can proceed with the Solar for All program as planned, they anticipate that 12,555 Pennsylvania households will have solar installations, amounting to $101,782,698 in savings by the end of the five-year term of the program.
“The proof is in the numbers. Our Solarize Philly program has generated $71MM in investment in our local economy, creating 550 direct jobs,” said Emily Schapira, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Energy Authority. “Solar work is hyper-local, employing residents to install projects in their own backyards whether the setting is urban, rural, or suburban.”
“Solar is fiscally responsible and allows Pennsylvania to rely on its own innovation and clean energy sources, reducing dependence on imported energy,” said Justin Mason, director of programs and operations of the Pennsylvania Conservative Energy Forum. “House Bill 362 and the Solar for All program represent a critical step in helping communities transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future while supporting local economies and building American energy leadership."
“Through my role, I work directly with homeowners across Western PA to help them make the switch to solar. I’ve witnessed the tangible impact solar energy has on families: reducing energy costs, increasing energy independence, and contributing to a more sustainable future,” said Ian Smith, director of residential consultations, EIS Solar. “At EIS, we believe that these benefits can and should be accessible to all.”
Energy Committee members asked questions about topics including solar panel decommissioning, keeping costs low for homeowners, and more.
Joanne Tosti-Vasey, a Centre County homeowner, joined testifiers "I believe [going solar] was one of the best investments my husband and I have made for my home,” she said. “Beyond the financial savings, having solar gives me a sense of energy security.”