Pennsylvania HB 502: An Act amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition Board.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1479
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 502
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY STEELE, GIRAL, MADDEN, WAXMAN, SAPPEY, HILL-EVANS,
HOWARD, SCHLOSSBERG, MALAGARI, NEILSON, SANCHEZ, KHAN,
O'MARA, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, K.HARRIS, DONAHUE, McNEILL, INGLIS,
PROKOPIAK, SALISBURY, KRUEGER, BOROWSKI, SIEGEL, ABNEY,
KINKEAD, BOYD, HOHENSTEIN, SHUSTERMAN, PIELLI, MAYES AND
PROBST, APRIL 23, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, APRIL 23, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Reliable Energy
Siting and Electric Transition Board.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 27 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 8
RELIABLE ENERGY SITING AND ELECTRIC TRANSITION BOARD
Sec.
801. Findings and declaration of policy.
802. Definitions.
803. Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition Board.
804. Powers and duties of board.
805. Certificate of reliable energy supply.
806. Application process.
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807. Application review.
808. Pennsylvania Siting Advisory Council.
809. Effect of other laws.
§ 801. Findings and declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The present and predicted growth in energy demands
in this Commonwealth requires a Statewide procedure for the
selection and use of sites for reliable energy generating and
storage facilities. The selection of sites will have an
impact on our citizens, the location and growth of industry
and the use of natural resources of this Commonwealth.
(2) It is the policy of the Commonwealth to locate large
reliable energy generating and storage facilities in an
orderly manner that is compatible with human health, safety,
environmental preservation and the efficient use of
resources.
(3) In order to effectuate this policy, there is need
for greater Statewide coordination of facility siting to
ensure continued electric power system reliability and
integrity while satisfying the Commonwealth's obligations
under section 27 of Article I of the Constitution of
Pennsylvania and limiting adverse effects on human health,
safety and the environment.
§ 802. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Advisory council." The Pennsylvania Siting Advisory Council
established in section 808(a) (relating to Pennsylvania Siting
Advisory Council).
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"Board." The Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition
Board established in section 803 (relating to Reliable Energy
Siting and Electric Transition Board).
"Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
the Commonwealth.
"Electric generator." The equipment or machinery capable of
producing, generating or storing electricity for private or
public consumption.
"Property" or "site." The parcel of real property upon which
a reliable energy generating or storage facility or storage
facility is proposed to be constructed or modified.
"Reliable energy generating facility" or "facility." An
electric generator plant, or a combination of electric
generators and associated facilities, with a nameplate capacity
equal to or greater than 25 megawatts.
"Reliable energy generator." A person that proposes to
construct:
(1) An electric generator with a nameplate capacity
equal to or greater than 25 megawatts or modify an existing
electric generator to result in a nameplate capacity equal to
or greater than 25 megawatts.
(2) A reliable energy storage facility.
"Reliable energy storage facility." A facility located in
this Commonwealth employing technology, including any
electrochemical, thermal or electromechanical technology, or any
technology defined as "energy storage technology" in 26 U.S.C. §
48E (relating to clean energy investment credit) or 26 CFR
1.48E-2(g)(6) (relating to qualified investments in qualified
facilities and EST for purposes of section 48E) as of the
effective date of this section, that is capable of absorbing and
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storing energy for use at a later time and that has a maximum
facility output of at least 10 megawatts and the technical
capacity to deliver its maximum facility output in a minimum
duration of no less than four hours.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Environmental Protection of
the Commonwealth.
§ 803. Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition Board.
(a) Establishment.--The Reliable Energy Siting and Electric
Transition Board is established within the department for the
purpose of facilitating the development of new sources of
reliable energy in this Commonwealth while limiting adverse
effects on human health, safety an