Twenty years ago, Pennsylvania led the nation by establishing the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS), which successfully promoted new and innovative forms of energy generation in our Commonwealth. Now, however, Pennsylvania is falling behind in the race to keep up with rapidly increasing energy demand as the tech economy continues to grow. We are currently 45th in the nation in terms of investing in clean energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower.

By diversifying energy sources and adding more clean, reliable, and affordable energy to the grid, the Governor’s Lightning Plan will help to increase supply, maintain our energy independence, cement Pennsylvania’s place as one of the world’s top energy producers, and insulate consumers from rising utility costs resulting from global instability, foreign wars, increased domestic demand, and shortages in the existing, fossil-fuel dominated capacity markets. After two decades, AEPS has reached the end of its planned lifespan, and other states have retaken the lead in generating economic growth through development in their power sectors.

The Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) builds on the successful elements of AEPS while making it more inclusive—adding nuclear power and next generation technologies like fusion, and incentivizing lower emissions for gas-fired power plants. PRESS now also features incentives for innovative technology like linear generators. This revitalized energy standard will deliver tens of thousands of jobs, improve the reliability of our electricity grid, and position Pennsylvania as a leader in the energy arena for the next twenty years. Reliable baseload power is built into the core of PRESS, with a strong focus on resilient forms of generation, including battery storage, natural gas, and nuclear power.

As the Governor has made abundantly clear, we can’t sit around and do nothing while other states pass us by in the race to diversify our energy sources and create clean, reliable, and affordable energy. I hope that you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.