Update from Harrisburg on House Bill #1580

Maureen Mulligan

The Ross Solar Jobs Bill (HB #1580) has been assigned to the House Consumer Affairs Committee as of yesterday, October 20^th. This is the good news we have been waiting for. Our coalition made up of Penn Future, Solar Alliance, Vote Solar and PASEIA will be hosting a lobby day focused on asking the head of the House committee, Representative Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) to bring the bill up for a committee vote as soon as possible. When the bill went to print over a week ago, there were 106 co-sponsors, 60 Democrats and 46 Republicans. 103 votes are needed for it to pass the House. Having the co-sponsors is a great start but doesn’t guarantee instant passage particularly if amendments are offered that clog the discussion.

There is also great news in the Senate. Senators David Argall (R) John Blake (D) and Ted Erickson (R)have all signed on as sponsors of a senate version of House bill 1580. We expect the Senate will take up the bill after it passes the House. With only 18 legislative days scheduled in this year, we ask you to stay vigilant by checking the PASEIA blog often for updates. We will need each and every one of you to help pass this bill if we are going to get this through and sent to the Governor for his signature before the end of the year.

We need to start with letters and calls to the House Consumer Affairs committee members. You can also link to emails from this list.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Majority (Room 150 MC) Godshall, Robert W. , Chair - 717-783-6428 Kampf, Warren , Secretary 717-260-6166 Ellis, Brian L., Subcommittee Chair on Telecommunications 717-787-7686 Kauffman, Rob W., Subcommittee Chair on Public Utilities 717-705-2004 Delozier, Sheryl M. 717-783-5282 DiGirolamo, Gene717-783-7319 Evans, John R. 717-772-9940 Farry, Frank A. 717-260-6140 Harhart, Julie 717-772-5398 Payne, John D. 717-787-2684 Perry, Scott 717-783-8783 Pickett, Tina 717-783-8238 Reichley, Douglas G 717-787-1000 Stephens, Todd 717-260-6163 Toepel, Marcy 717-787-9501

	Minority (Room 202 IOB)
Preston, Joseph, Jr. , Democratic Chair 717-783-1017 Brennan, Joseph F. , Democratic Secretary 717-772-9902 Burns, Frank, Subcommittee Democratic Chair on Telecommunications 717-772-8056 DePasquale, Eugene, Subcommittee Democratic Chair on Public Utilities 717-787-7514
Barbin, Bryan 717-783-1491 Kotik, Nick 717-783-3780 Matzie, Robert F. 717-787-4444 Neuman, Brandon P. 717-783-4834 Parker, Cherelle L. 717-783-2078 White, Jesse 717-783-6347

Update from Harrisburg on Ross’s solar bill #1580

Maureen Mulligan - PASEIA

Far from an idle summer for solar, much work has been done by those of you who worked hard to get your House Member and others to co-sponsor Representative Chris Ross ’solar bill to shift the requirement to allow for more solar from 2013-2015 and close the borders to out of state projects paid for by Pennsylvania consumers. By July 4^th, shortly after the legislature adjourned for the summer, we had 68 co-sponsors on his draft bill. As of this writing, there is what I believe to be a record number of co-sponsors, 100 strong! (If you are a PASEIA member and would like the current co-sponsor list, contact Ron Celentano at CelentanoR@aol.com). In order to get a bill passed in the House, 102 votes are needed. Assuming all the co-sponsors actually vote in favor of the Ross bill, only two additional votes are needed for it to move to the State Senate but it has to get through committee and onto the House floor for a vote first. It is important to note that we can’t assume that everyone who co-sponsors will automatically vote for the bill especially if the language changes from what legislators signed on to support. I expect it will be assigned to the Consumer Affairs Committee headed by Representative Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery). The list of members on this committee are shown below, along with their contact numbers.

Representative Ross plans to introduce the bill today – 10/3/2011. In addition, PASEIA is working with the Senate to introduce a companion bill. The Governor has scheduled an announcement for today on the Marcellus Shale impact fee so it will important to let legislators know it is important to move HB #1580 now since Marcellus Shale is the biggest energy issue for most legislators.

The best way to follow developments on HB#1580 is to check the PASEIA blog and your email for updates and actions. PASEIA members should make sure they have their passwords updated (RE: www.MSEIA.net website access) in case additional information and talking points are available on that part of the site. These bills will NOT get passed without strong and persistent public support. The opposition is already mounting to oppose the bill based on information that it will raise rates. This message can resonate with legislators. If we let the opposition’s numbers stand unchallenged, we will lose. Although it is very difficult to accurately predict the exact cost to make these modest changes to the solar portion of the AEPS, Ron Celentano and others have spent time attempting to quantify the price of SRECs if the bill passes. This average SREC price can be analyzed to assess average ratepayer impact. The impact may seem small to you but it is important to be sensitive to what ANY rate increase can have on Pennsylvanians. PASEIA’s projected rate impacts on PA customers from HB1580 will be presented soon.

It is important if you are in a solar business to tell your story, particularly as it relates to jobs. If you have a solar system, it is also important to talk about how the low SREC prices have or will affect the cost of your system. If you are a supporter of solar, it is important legislators know that solar is supported in Pennsylvania. Stay involved.

My opinion is that if HB #1580 doesn’t get passed by both Chambers (House and Senate) and is signed by the Governor by the end of the year, it will be too late to have real impact.

Below are the members on the Consumer Affairs Committee. We will put out the schedule of when House and Senate are currently scheduled to be in Harrisburg and by default, when they may be in their home districts. Contact them today.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Majority (Room 150 MC) Godshall, Robert W. , Chair - 717-783-6428 Kampf, Warren , Secretary 717-260-6166 Ellis, Brian L., Subcommittee Chair on Telecommunications 717-787-7686 Kauffman, Rob W., Subcommittee Chair on Public Utilities 717-705-2004 Delozier, Sheryl M. 717-783-5282 DiGirolamo, Gene717-783-7319 Evans, John R. 717-772-9940 Farry, Frank A. 717-260-6140 Harhart, Julie 717-772-5398 Payne, John D. 717-787-2684 Perry, Scott 717-783-8783 Pickett, Tina 717-783-8238 Reichley, Douglas G 717-787-1000 Stephens, Todd 717-260-6163 Toepel, Marcy 717-787-9501

Minority (Room 202 IOB)
Preston, Joseph, Jr. , Democratic Chair 717-783-1017 Brennan, Joseph F. , Democratic Secretary 717-772-9902 Burns, Frank, Subcommittee Democratic Chair on Telecommunications 717-772-8056 DePasquale, Eugene, Subcommittee Democratic Chair on Public Utilities 717-787-7514
Barbin, Bryan 717-783-1491 Kotik, Nick 717-783-3780 Matzie, Robert F. 717-787-4444 Neuman, Brandon P. 717-783-4834 Parker, Cherelle L. 717-783-2078 White, Jesse 717-783-6347

Go to www.mseia.net to donate online to PA Campaign: Saving Solar in PA

Thank you.

Maureen Mulligan, PSEIA

Update on Harrisburg – PASEIA Activities 9/15/2011

The legislature will return to Harrisburg after a summer hiatus. The state Senate returns on September 19^th and the House on September 26th. Good work was accomplished over the summer as PASEIA continues to seek co-sponsors for Representative Chris Ross’s House bill #1580. I have never seen so many co-sponsors on a bill which bodes well for our efforts. There are 203 Members in the House (112 Republicans/91 Democrats) so a good rule of thumb is you need about 105 to pass a bill with a small margin for error. With 78 co-sponsors, we are well on our way and should be able to get the attention of the legislature during this short legislative session before they adjourn for the year. They are currently scheduled to be in session until December 14, 2011 but there are a few breaks for elections and holidays. There are currently 23 senate calendar days between now and Dec. 14 and 27 House calendar days for us to work to get the bill through both Houses and then signed by the Governor before the end of 2011. This is doable if we keep the pressure on and don’t lose votes.

Now is the time to get back to your House member and make sure they are solidly with us, thank them for co-sponsoring the Ross bill (assuming they have signed on) or conversely, try to get those that haven’t signed on to do so. Sometimes, when many of their colleagues sign on, they are more willing to add their names to the list. The latest co-sponsor list is available for PASEIA members (email Ron Celentano – CelentanoR@aol.com). The Senate seems to want to wait to see what the House does with the bill before introducing a companion version.

Despite our positive momentum over the last several months, there are large initiatives the legislature is likely to address such as Marcellus Shale impact fees, redistricting, and transportation among other priorities. We run the risk of getting lost in a crowded agenda if we don’t keep the pressure on. Please plan to spend some time keeping in touch with your legislature, following developments, making a trip or two to Harrisburg , sending letters to your local press supporting HB #1580 and financially supporting PASEIA’s work.

Go to www.mseia.net to donate online to PA Campaign: Saving Solar in PA

Thank you. Maureen Mulligan

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Update from Harrisburg July 5, 2011

Pennsylvania passed its $27.149 state budget on time, the Governor signed it and now the legislature is recessed until mid-September. That doesn’t mean work stops on HB #1580, Representative Chris Ross’s bill to change the solar requirement and close Pennsylvania borders to out of state projects. The proposed House bill has a whopping 68 co-sponsors which should be enough to get the legislature’s attention in the fall session. Over the summer, it is important we firm up these co-sponsorships, check back with legislators who co-sponsored the bill, thank them and see if they have any advice on how to reach other legislators or have any questions. For those legislators who haven’t co-sponsored the bill, especially Republicans, it is time to meet with them in their district offices over the summer. The goal over the summer is to get additional co-sponsorships so we are well positioned for a positive fall vote. Summer is a good time to meet with both your House Member and Senators, or with Members where you have solar projects located or under development. PASEIA’s and MSEIA’s website is slowing getting up to date with materials and background information and Peter Olmsted from Vote Solar is working on building a coalition over the summer so we have a strong group to move our agenda. Enjoy the summer and please let us know how you make out with your visits.

Submitted by Maureen Mulligan

Government relations and lobbyist PASEIA

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