Urging the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact House Bill No. 2200 and Special House Session Bill No. 1 which are both significant steps in Pennsylvania toward the establishment of a green jobs initiative and green economics revitalization.

WHEREAS

, House Bill No. 2200 would provide the necessary support for businesses and residents across the Commonwealth to implement energy savings measures; and

WHEREAS

, House Bill No. 2200 would also ensure that every Pennsylvania electricity consumer would have greater control over their energy use through a smart meter requiring utilities to reduce overall energy output by 2.5% over the next five years; and

WHEREAS,

Out of all states, Pennsylvania is 44th in per capita spending on energy efficiency by utility companies; and

WHEREAS,

Special House Session Bill 1 (SHB 1) would create an $850 million fund for investments in renewable energy, energy conservation, and green buildings; and

WHEREAS,

The $850 million of SHB 1 includes $200 million for solar energy, $30 million for wind energy, $25 million for green buildings, and $39 million for rebates for consumers who replace old appliances with more energy efficient appliances; and

WHEREAS,

SHB 1 is expected to create 13,000 new jobs and will make Pennsylvania more competitive with clean energy policies and incentives of other states; and

WHEREAS,

Both bills will provide thousands of well paying jobs for and are vital components to Pennsylvania’s Energy Independence Strategy that seeks to protect the Commonwealth from the effects of rapidly rising energy prices; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, That Council urges the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact House Bill No. 2200 and Special House Session Bill No. 1 which are significant steps in Pennsylvania toward the establishment of a green jobs initiative and green economics revitalization.

FURTHER RESOLVED

, That an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Pennsylvania State Senate

so they may take immediate action to pass HB 2200 and SHB 1.

End