Since DVGBC’s Green Building Advocacy Day in June, there has been significant progress on the bills our team prioritized. Read below for some key updates and review our full legislative update to get the status of each of the priority bills.

HB 409 | Legislation to Reform Uniform Construction Code Adoption Process

Bill to amend the process by which the Review and Advisory Council adopts code provisions into the Uniform Construction Code

Status: Signed on October 25 into law as Act 36 of 2017

  • The bill includes a one-time jump-ahead for the City of Philadelphia to adopt the 2018 commercial codes via ordinance. This is a significant change given the volume of commercial construction that is underway in Philadelphia that is currently building to an outdated, energy inefficient standard.
  • The rest of the commonwealth will reconsider 2015 codes through the Review and Advisory Council under this new adoption process. The adopted provisions from the re-review of 2015 codes will take effect on October 1, 2018.

SB 404 | Solar Energy Credit Legislation

Closes the border on Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), requiring that all SRECs purchased in fulfillment of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Program originate in Pennsylvania.

Status: Passed via Administrative Code Bill (HB 118) on October 18; Awaiting Governor’s Signature

  • Only Pennsylvania-sited solar systems would receive credit under the AEPS. Reverses the devaluation of Pennsylvania solar, which has led to a dramatic loss of investment and jobs. Currently, AEPS allows any solar system located in the 13 states of the PJM Interconnection region to be eligible to receive Pennsylvania’s SRECs. This loophole has resulted in a massive oversupply of solar from other states registered in the Pennsylvania AEPS compliance program (79% out-of-state solar projects.)
  • Pennsylvania ratepayers would no longer subsidize thousands of out-of-state jobs or reward solar owners outside of Pennsylvania for their investment. In 2016, Pennsylvania ranked 22nd nationwide for its number of solar jobs per the Solar Jobs Census.

SB 234 | PA Property Assessed Clean Energy Program – PACE

Enabling legislation that allows municipalities to establish and administer a PACE program for commericla and industrial properties. 

Status: On Senate calendar for action; House Companion Bill Introduced (HB 1722), In Committee

  • SB 234 was voted unanimously out of the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee on October 25.

SB 415 | Green Buildings Legislation

Requires that state-owned or state-leased buildings meet high-performance building standards.

Status: In Committee; House Companion Bill Introduced (HB 1830), In Committee

  • DVGBC sent a letter of support to Senator Yaw, Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, urging that the bill be reported out of committee.

NEW: SB 805 | Large Commercial and Industrial Opt-out of Act 129

This bill has been re-introduced by Senator Boscola. It allows all large commercial and industrial customers not to pay for Act 129 programs, which threatens the budget for energy efficiency programs in Pennsylvania.