Due to the short legislative session before they break for
election, it is clear neither the Senate nor House will bring up the solar bill
for a vote before session ends. There are only a few legislative calendar days scheduled: four days left on the Senate calendar and ten
in the House and not all days will be voting days. This doesn’t leave adequate time
to pass either HB 1580 or SB 1350 in both Houses and get it before the Governor
for his signature. There also remains the question as to whether the Governor
would sign the bill even if it did
pass. I don’t imagine this is coming as
a surprise to most people reading this.
Representative Chris Ross (Chester) and Senator David Argall (Berks
etc.) deserve our appreciation for trying to overcome the leadership void and
move the bill.
So what does that mean for PASEIA? We know people have lost their jobs in solar
and are trying to find new ones, diversify their skills so they can stay in
Pennsylvania or have decided to move their business elsewhere, at least until
the market catches up here. PASEIA will
still seek opportunities to promote solar in 2013 and beyond although for the
time being only through non-legislative avenues. In the meantime, it’s election time in
Pennsylvania and the nation and everyone is aware the Presidential race is on
but many are unaware that all of the state House and one-half the Senate are up
for re-election. Has your legislator
supported solar and PASEIA’s efforts to save solar in Pennsylvania?
One thing we are very excited about is that very soon MSEIA/PASEIA will be releasing a detailed report on the Benefits of Solar in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, by Richard Perez, Ben Norris and Tom Hoff - prepared by Clean Power Research. This study will be invaluable as we use it to educate legislators, public officials and the general public of the quantitative value of implementing solar PV technology, which results in a huge impact to rate payers and tax payers in both states.
Maureen Mulligan and Ron Celentano
