Sen. Chuck McIlhinney introduced the bill in the Senate
The Times
Democratic and Republican legislators from every corner of the state and from both chambers of the General Assembly came together to introduce legislation to make Pennsylvania a leader in the effort to solve climate change.
Sen. Chuck McIlhinney introduced the bill in the Senate.
The newly introduced legislation sets out to transition Pennsylvania to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.
While similar proposals are pending in state legislatures in California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington as well as proposals in both chambers of Congress, Pennsylvania’s proposal is the first bill of its kind in the country to be introduced with a Republican legislator as its chief sponsor.
“Clean, renewable energy holds the key to promoting a healthier environment, a stronger economy and a brighter future for future generations,” McIlhinney said.
Under this legislation, the state would create a Clean Energy Transition Task Force, a Clean Energy Center of Excellence and a Council for Clean Energy Workforce Development to develop a plan.
Last month, a poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research found that 71 percent of Pennsylvanians support the state setting a goal of generating 100 percent of its electricity using clean, renewable energy like wind and solar power, including 52 percent support from Republicans polled.
In early April, a Franklin & Marshall poll showed that nearly 70 percent of Pennsylvanians believe it’s more important to pursue policies that prioritize the availability of renewable energy over those that prioritize fossil fuel extraction.
“We have the technological ability and the support from Pennsylvania voters to transition to 100 percent renewable energy,” said PennEnvironment executive director David Masur. “We owe it to our kids, our grandkids and the planet to use these tools to solve climate change as quickly as possible, and the legislation announced today will do just that.”
At the news conference to announce the legislation, the sponsors were joined by a diverse set of constituencies showing their support for tackling climate change, including religious leaders, public health experts, Pennsylvania academics involved in drafting previous international climate agreements and business leaders.
“As people of faith, we are called to protect and preserve what God has given us in order that future generations will have what they need to live and thrive. Now that renewables have entered the realm of the affordable and accessible, I believe we have a moral imperative to support passage of this proposal,” said the Rev. Sandra Strauss, director of advocacy and ecumenical outreach for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.
A network of nearly 150 Pennsylvania civic leaders and organizations released a new letter in support of the legislation and calling for immediate action to solve climate change.
“Clean energy jobs are the wave of the future, and Pennsylvania should get out front to be a leader,” said Thea Gudonis, who works for the Pennsylvania-based solar company Solar States. “Solar is one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation, with jobs that pay well and can’t be sent overseas. If Pennsylvania doesn’t jump on this opportunity, certainly another state will.”
Legislators acknowledge they face a daunting battle, as lobbyists for the fossil fuel industry are numerous and incredibly influential. ••
