Municipal and Emergency Responder Solar Grant Program Act
Written by Andrew Miller
Representative Robert Merskie from Erie County introduced H.B. 2577 to create a solar energy grant program for local municipal governments, public service authorities and emergency services facilities. The program would be modeled after the Solar for Schools legislation with the goal of making long-term, stable and affordable electricity available to local governments. According to the sponsorship memo:
“The program will issue grants to political subdivisions and local authorities to help fund solar energy projects at political subdivision and emergency service facilities. Grants will cover up to 50% of the costs related to the purchase and installation of solar equipment, including prepayment in whole or in part of a solar lease or power purchase agreement, permit fees, energy storage, utility interconnection and any other costs approved by the PaDEP.”
Andrew Miller, an attorney with MPL Law Firm’s Renewable Energy Practice Group, believes this legislation is significant and encourages municipal and solar clients alike to support it: “With the pullback of the federal government and the funding freezes being implemented at the federal level, it is becoming increasingly important that local governments secure a stable and affordable long-term supplement to their energy needs.”
Attorney Miller continued, “we expect energy prices to rise significantly with major competition for limited energy resources coming from AI developers and technology giants. Local governments need to recognize the significant shift in their financial landscape and work now to secure affordable power for their operations. Local governments have enjoyed a relatively long period of low tax rates supported in part by financial support for many types of local government projects. With that support ending, local governments will need to be very proactive to manage future costs to avoid tax increases on their local residents. With or without H.B. 2577, local governments should explore renewables, especially solar, geothermal or wind, as a long-term stable source of energy for their operations. It just makes financial sense. Relying on a cheap market for electric is not likely a good bet.”
For questions about renewable energy, please reach out to Andrew Miller, amiller@mpl-law.com, or any of our other Renewable Energy Law practice group at MPL Law Firm, LLP for more information or assistance.