With momentum growing for Gov. Shapiro’s Energy Plan, hundreds lobby for climate solutions

Nearly one in four PA legislators lobbied by concerned constituents during annual citizen climate lobby day

HARRISBURG, Pa. — As members of the state legislature buckle down for what could be a protracted budget battle over the next month, concerned residents from across the commonwealth participated in Pennsylvania’s largest annual environmental lobby day, calling for comprehensive climate solutions to be part of any final budget agreement. All told, more than 400 Pennsylvanians representing over 50 state House and Senate districts signed up to join meetings with their legislators. 

Pennsylvanians from across the Commonwealth join PennEnvironment at their virtual rally as part of Climate Action Lobby DayPhoto by TPIN | TPIN

“From Erie to the Poconos and from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, hundreds of Pennsylvanians from all walks of life are joining the citizen climate lobby day on June 6th to press our elected officials in Harrisburg to move swiftly to implement the package of climate solution policies currently awaiting action in the General Assembly,” said Flora Cardoni, PennEnvironment’s field director. 

Pennsylvanians met with their legislators, calling on them to pass two bills comprising Governor Shapiro’s Energy Plan — SB1191/HB2275, the PA Climate Emissions Reduction Program (PACER) and SB1190/HB2277, the PA Reliable Sustainable Energy Standard (PRESS). 

Together, these bills would cap climate pollution from the commonwealth’s largest global warming polluters, and significantly increase the existing requirements for renewable energy produced by utility companies providing electricity in Pennsylvania to be at least 35% wind and solar by 2035. This would be a four-fold increase over current renewable energy requirements. 

Residents also lobbied their local legislators to pass Community Solar legislation (HB 1842), the Lake Erie Wind Development Act (HB254), Solar on Schools (HB1032), and Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards (HB1615). All four pieces of legislation have passed the state House and currently await action in the state Senate.

“Poll after poll shows that Pennsylvanians from all walks of life—Democrats, Republicans and Independents—support increasing renewable energy production and tackling climate change,” said Cardoni. “That’s why so many concerned Pennsylvanians join PennEnvironment’s annual citizen climate lobby day to demand that our elected officials implement policies to expand clean energy, improve energy efficiency, reduce climate and air pollution, and protect our children and future generations.”

The day also included a virtual rally featuring cosponsors of many of the bills concerned citizens were lobbying on, including State Senator Carolyn Comitta and State Representative Aerion Abney (lead sponsors of the PACER legislation) and State Representative Jennifer O’Mara (lead sponsor of the appliance energy efficiency standards bill). 

“Protecting our planet has always been important to me. It’s why I got involved in public service and why I ran for office. And it should be important to every Pennsylvania because environmental health directly impacts human health,” said State Senator Carolyn Comitta. “As a major energy-producing state, the Commonwealth should be leading the way in cutting harmful emissions and investing in clean energy. We can do it for this generation and the next one. We can do it by passing legislation like PACER, PRESS, Solar for Schools, Community Solar, and more.”

“Climate Change is an imminent threat to our health and safety and, as a member of the General Assembly’s Climate Caucus, it is a goal of my office to push forward clean energy and energy efficiency legislation,” said State Representative Jennifer O’Mara (D-Delaware). “That’s why I am thrilled that after six years, my energy efficient appliance standards legislation, House Bill 1615, has finally passed the House. I’m thankful to PennEnvironment and all of the advocates participating in Lobby Day today for building support for this bill and climate action”

This year’s citizen climate action lobby day is co-sponsored by PennPIRG, Solar United Neighbors, Vote Solar Action Fund, POWER Interfaith, Sierra Club PA, Clean Air Action Fund, CVPA, PennFuture, KEEA, LAMPA, and Evergreen Action.

Constituents Talk with Chairman Greg Vitali about advancing climate solutionsPhoto by TPIN | TPIN

“Today’s participants showed that concerned citizens want to make Pennsylvania a climate champ and stop being a climate chump,” Cardoni said. “There are now so many good policies queued up and ready to be passed — there’s no time like the present for legislators to follow their constituents’ lead and do the right thing for people and the planet”

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PennEnvironment is a statewide non-profit environmental advocacy group dedicated to protecting our water, air and open spaces. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public and decision-makers, and help the public make their voices heard in local, state and national debates over the quality of our environment and our lives. To learn more about this or PennEnvironment’s other priorities, visit our website at www.PennEnvironment.org.