Amid energy affordability crisis, House Blue-Green Caucus launches new bill package to expand clean energy, strengthen workforce
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus April 13, 2026 | 4:15 PM
HARRISBURG, April 13 – On Monday, members of the House Blue-Green Caucus stood with leading labor and environmental advocates to unveil a new package of bills designed to accelerate Pennsylvania’s clean energy production and create union jobs in growing energy sectors.
This package comes at a crucial moment as energy prices rise, renewable energy sector jobs are under threat, and Pennsylvania continues to rank among the lowest in renewable energy production.
From Trump’s disastrous war with Iran to the systematic rollback of federal clean energy investments, working Pennsylvanians are currently bearing the brunt of skyrocketing electricity costs and ballooning prices at the gas pumps. With federal decisions driving up prices, the 58-member Blue-Green Caucus chaired by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., said that Harrisburg must step up to provide real, state-level solutions.
“Pennsylvania is an energy leader, with a highly skilled workforce and the resources and space for energy development: there’s no reason why we should be falling behind states like Texas when it comes to renewable energy production,” Fiedler said. “We have 581 million square feet of warehouse rooftop space to install solar panels, we have hundreds of schools eager to apply for Solar for Schools grant funding, and we have working people who want and deserve good, family-sustaining jobs. This package is a win-win-win for boosting our energy economy and reaching climate goals at the same time.”
This initiative builds upon the foundation of the successful Solar for Schools program. Born from the first Blue-Green collaboration, Solar for Schools projects will soon be lowering energy costs for school districts across the Commonwealth by installing solar panels on roofs using skilled union labor. This new package seeks to scale that model of cooperation across the entire energy sector.
Legislative Highlights: Innovation and Independence
The package includes several bills designed to unlock Pennsylvania’s energy independence and improve grid reliability through emerging technologies:
- Geothermal and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Authorizing new renewable and carbon-free sources to diversify the grid.
- Clean Manufacturing: Incentivizing the decarbonization of existing industries to keep Pennsylvania competitive.
- Battery Storage and Solar Warehouses: Expanding the infrastructure needed to capture and store clean energy efficiently.
“Warehouses are some of the largest energy consumers, so turning them into energy producers just makes sense,” said Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock, D-Berks. “My bill (H.B. 1260) is about encouraging growth in Pennsylvania while keeping environmental awareness top of mind and lowering energy bills for residents.”
“We have the opportunity to increase energy production, reduce costs, create jobs and protect the environment in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-Allegheny, prime sponsor of the Geothermal Energy Development bill, H.B. 2076. “I am proud to work with Chair Fiedler, Blue-Green Caucus colleagues, the Shapiro-Davis administration, industry, labor, environmentalists and everyday Pennsylvanians to support this critical package of bills to build a better future for our Commonwealth.”
To work in tandem with this new energy development, H.B. 2347 is designed to give the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority to utilize public and private funds to turbocharge energy production, keep energy bills down, and create family-sustaining jobs across the commonwealth. The siting reform bill, H.B. 2374, will further remove barriers to the development of new clean energy by eliminating de facto bans on renewable energy.
“House Bill 2347 may not be sexy, but it is very impactful,” said Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware. “By modernizing the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority law, we can draw down on public and private dollars to invest in innovative projects, save money and create jobs.”
Other bills in the package directly address workforce development: H.B. 894, sponsored by Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, creates an apprenticeship program for veterans entering the sustainability sector, while H.B. 1580 ensures Pennsylvania is prepared for the climate crisis by mandating basic workplace protections during extreme heat.
“The PA Building Trades are all of the above, and these bills are integral to an all-of-the-above strategy,” said Rob Bair, president of the Pennsylvania Build Trades Council. “There is no magic bullet to fix this problem tomorrow; it’s going to take time, but the first step in this process is both sides of the Capitol, Republican and Democrats, coming together to pass this package of bills to prove to the Commonwealth that we’re serious.”
“This partnership demonstrates that a strong environmental agenda is also good for workers and for our economy,” said Molly Parzen, executive director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. “By investing in clean energy right here at home, we can deliver a triple win: lowering monthly energy costs for families, creating family-sustaining union jobs and ensuring cleaner air for all Pennsylvanians. This powerful partnership between labor, environmental advocates and our elected leaders in Harrisburg shows that when we work together, we can deliver the real, common-sense change our Commonwealth deserves.”
Pennsylvania currently ranks 49th in the country for growth in renewable energy production. However, clean energy job growth is currently outpacing the energy sector as a whole. Data shows that energy employers with unionized workforces report significantly less difficulty hiring than non-unionized competitors, highlighting the essential role of labor in the energy transition.
“The clean energy transition is not an abstract goal. It's electricians, steamfitters, engineers, welders and other skilled trades earning family-sustaining wages and addressing energy affordability in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Robert Routh, Pennsylvania policy director for National Resources Defense Council. “Taken together, the Blue-Green legislative package is pro-worker and pro-consumer, delivering lower utility costs and a cleaner economy while expanding Pennsylvania's role as an energy powerhouse.”
The package also includes renewed funding for Solar for Schools, the successful grant program now in its second year that was championed by labor and environmental groups, including teachers’ unions and building trades.
“On behalf of the 700,000 members we represent in Pennsylvania, I want to say that the PA AFL-CIO is extremely excited to partner with the Blue-Green Caucus to push this legislation forward,” said Maurice Cobb, secretary-treasurer of the PA AFL-CIO. “The drain on the grid is increasing day by day while the grid is aging, and we need to come together: we can have clean energy and a sustainable grid.”
Also in attendance at Monday’s press conference were Reps. Leanne Kreuger, D-Delaware; Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila.; Lisa Borowski, D-Delaware; and Nate Davidson, D-Dauphin/Cumberland; and representatives from United Steelworkers, the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance and Keystone Research Center.
Today’s press conference can be viewed in its entirety here. A list of bills in the package can be found here.