The rise of e-commerce has brought significant changes to the logistics industry and to many parts of the Lehigh Valley. For instance, 44 million square feet of industrial and warehouse space has been approved in Lehigh and Northampton counties alone over the last nine years.  

The e-commerce industry has brought jobs to communities across Pennsylvania and provides us with an opportunity to leverage all this space to address a challenge that many Pennsylvanians face: rising energy costs. 

Warehouses and distribution centers offer ample real estate to advance solar energy, increase Pennsylvania’s share of electricity generated by renewable sources, create high-paying jobs, and lower utility bills for consumers. 

To advance these goals, I am introducing legislation that will propose the following: 

1. Require that all new warehouses and distribution centers be constructed so that they are solar-ready; and 
2. Provide a tax credit for existing warehouses and distribution centers to make any retrofits necessary to be solar-ready. 

Solar development on warehouses and distribution centers is an effort that has broad support. Pennsylvania is a leader in e-commerce and can be a leader in solar-ready warehouses.  

Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation.