What Happens in Pennsylvania…

What’s happening in Pennsylvania is a miniature of the clean energy battle being fought at national and international levels today (this story), as well as an example of how ordinary citizens can be energized when vital issues aren’t accorded the attention they deserve.

In November we issued an Action Alert to solar citizens in Pennsylvania about HB80, a bill that seeks to strengthen the alternative energy portfolio standard in that state to 18%, with a 3% carve-out for solar.  It’s worthwhile legislation that can, if passed, give a boost to clean energy and create some 75,000 jobs in Pennsylvania between now and 2025.

The bill, introduced by House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee member Greg Vitali, has been debated and amended and is currently awaiting a vote.  Realistically, according to Vitali, this won’t happen until the new year—January or February, he expects.  And at present, the usual suspects have lined up on both sides of the issue.  Opposing the bill are electric utilities such as Pennsylvania Power and Light, coal producers like the Pennsylvania Coal Association, and the state Chamber of Commerce.  Power company Exelon is pushing for a pro-nuclear amendment.  On the supportive side, amongst others, are environmental groups like PennFuture, the local IBEW chapter and a veterans’ group called Operation Free.

This cast of characters should surprise no-one, especially in such a ‘coal-heavy’ state, but even the opponents must be aware that they are increasingly fighting against the flow of history.  In early 19^th-century England, the coming of rail transport doomed the canals as an efficient means of commercial transportation.  Many bargees doubtless lost their livelihood, which is regrettable, but the point is that there was no way to oppose the power of what today we choose to call market forces.  And one could make the same anecdotal argument about whale oil dealers, buggy whip makers and many others. 

In the case of clean energy, the argument may have less to do with market forces (for now) than with the inexorably growing force of worldwide understanding, opinion and concern.  Even as the antagonists face off in Pennsylvania, hundreds of world leaders and delegates in Copenhagen and thousands of demonstrators across Europe are demanding action on climate change from the world’s industrialized nations.

 Solar Nation applauds Representative Vitali for the work he is doing to bring his own state in line with what our planet demands, while promoting the deployment of solar power there.  We’ll be keeping close to the Pennsylvania debate as it resurfaces early next year, so watch this space!