Gov. Shapiro unveiled his Lightning Plan. What is it? What does it mean for PA?

In a nod to Pennsylvania’s home-state hero Ben Franklin and his legendary kite flying exploits, Governor Shapiro announced his “Lightning Plan” standing alongside environmental, business and labor leaders last month. 

When taking a closer look beyond the plan’s powerful and strong marketing moniker, it’s clear that the governor’s Lightning Plan is meant to be a blueprint for a statewide energy plan for Pennsylvania.

Politically and substantively it makes sense that Gov. Shapiro would want to proactively lead on energy issues. The Keystone State has a longstanding history in U.S. energy production. And energy prices are a kitchen table issue that’s regularly on the public’s mind–especially when the price goes up and consumers feel the strain of higher electricity bills. Plus, both federal and state-level officials are always getting needled for not having a clear energy plan (especially when prices increase).

What is Gov. Shapiro’s Lightning Plan?

So putting a statewide energy plan forward makes sense.  The governor’s announced plan has six distinct legislative planks to it. They include:

• Legislation to increase requirements for the amount of clean, renewable energy that utility companies must supply in Pennsylvania. This proposal is called the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) and was also introduced into the general assembly last session. This year’s lead sponsors are the same as last session, state Senator Steve Santarsiero in the state Senate, and State Representative Danielle Friel Otten in the state House;
• Expanding the state’s cornerstone energy conservation law (often referred to just as “Act 129” in policy wonk circles), to reduce energy consumption and save Pennsylvanians money on their utility bills. This legislation is being introduced by State Senator Lisa Boscola in the Senate and State Representative Kyle Donahue in the state House;
• Creating a “polluter pays” program to make Pennsylvania’s largest global warming polluters pay for the climate pollution they release. This proposal was also introduced in last year’s legislation session and is called the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER). The legislation has the same lead sponsors as last session: state Senator Carolyn Comitta in the state senate and state Representative Aerion Abney in the state House;
• Streamlining the process for energy projects like wind and solar to come online faster in order to help deliver more clean energy. This legislation is called the Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition legislation (RESET), and is being introduced by State Senator John Kane in the state Senate and state Representative Mandy Steele in the state house; 
• Creating a “community energy” program that would help Pennsylvanians who can’t invest in their own renewable energy projects (like a Pennsylvanian who is a renter and lives in an apartment building in Philadelphia) or can’t afford the cost of going solar on their own, to be able to access and jointly share these types of energy sources. This proposal is being introduced by state Senator Judy Schwank in the state Senate and state Representative Peter Schweyer in the state House;
• Creating a set of tax breaks and subsidies for various types of energy projects, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. This legislation is called the Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) Tax Credit Program, and is being introduced by state Senator Nick Pisciottano and State Representative John Inglis. 

In order to get implemented in Pennsylvania, all of these proposals would first need to get passed by the state’s general assembly and then sent to Gov. Shapiro to sign into law.

What does Gov. Shapiro’s Lightning Plan mean for Pa?

If implemented as proposed by the governor and his legislative sponsors, the Lightning Plan could be a much-needed shot in the arm for renewable energy and energy conservation in Pennsylvania and put the Keystone State on the path towards a new, cleaner energy future. 

This is particularly critical since Pennsylvania currently ranks a dismal 48th in the nation for growth in renewable energy, while also having the fourth largest carbon footprint of any state in the U.S. 

If fully enacted, the Lightning Plan would:

• Require utility companies supplying electricity in Pennsylvania to get at least 35% of the energy from renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. This is more than a four-fold increase from the state’s current requirement for renewable energy production;
• Update Pennsylvania’s energy conservation law, which hasn’t been updated since its inception in 2008. Yet this groundbreaking program has already saved Pennsylvania residents and businesses a whopping $9 billion. It makes sense when you think that the cheapest, cleanest energy is the energy that you don’t need to produce in the first place, so reducing energy consumption matters. 
• Cap and put a price on global warming pollution from dirty power plants, and then reduce those caps each year so that our air keeps getting cleaner and cleaner. 
• Streamline the process for bringing new, clean energy projects online. Currently, Pennsylvania is one of only 12 states that don’t have a statewide law to address energy siting issues within its state borders.

When you put it all together, the new energy plan put forth by Gov. Shapiro can help put Pennsylvania on the path of being a clean energy leader, instead of a clean energy laggard.

If we want to tackle air and climate pollution and help keep our electricity bills down, it’s critical that Pennsylvania move away from dirty energy sources like burning coal and fracked gas, and instead lean into clean energy alternatives like wind, solar and energy conservation.

With leadership lagging at the federal level, it’s more crucial than ever that our elected leaders in Harrisburg take up the mantle and help make Pennsylvania a clean energy leader. Hopefully members of the state legislature can push beyond the current hyperpartisanship and get behind this commonsense blueprint to promote clean, affordable, reliable energy for all of Pennsylvania’s residents. 

Only then can we build the momentum needed to implement solutions that will leave a climate-safe planet for our kids, grandchildren and future generations.