House Energy Committee advances electric grid bills

Legislation sponsored by Rep. John Inglis would set strict deadlines for interconnection studies.

Last week, the state House Energy Committee advanced two pieces of legislation that would leverage the state’s existing grid infrastructure and next-generation technologies to meet rising demand and improve grid reliability.

One of the bills, HB 2595, sponsored by state Rep. John Inglis, would aim to streamline the interconnection process by imposing strict deadlines on electric distribution company interconnection studies.

“House Bill 2595’s bip artisan support shows the importance of adding more electricity to the grid as soon as possible,” Inglis said. “We cannot afford to have expanded energy generation and new opportunities delayed or abandoned. I’m grateful for my colleagues’ support and I look forward to seeing this move to a chamber vote soon.”

Inglis stated that interconnection delays set unpredictable project timelines for developers, which can lead to increased project costs and a competitive disadvantage for the state.

Inglis added that in neighboring states, the process can sometimes be completed in 60 days, but in Pennsylvania, interconnection processes can delay projects by 12 or more months.

HB 2380, a bill introduced by state Rep. Nikki Rivera, would establish targets for battery energy storage programs. According to a statement, by 2033, the programs will bring 3,000 megawatts of energy storage online, which could be enough to power roughly 2.5 million homes.

Battery storage programs store high volumes of elec- tricity when it’s plentiful and cheaper, and discharge it back to the grid when it’s needed most. Thirteen states have already established targeted programs, including California, New York and Texas.

“Increasing demand for energy for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and more are making electricity unaffordable for Pennsylvanians,” Rivera said. “My legislation would help ensure electricity’s reliability and affordability by requiring electric utilities to set targets and procure grid-stabilizing battery storage.”

The committee also approved HB 2359, which would adjust the Computer Data Center Sales and Use Tax Exemption Program, adding community protection eligibility requirements.

“With costs rising, we know we need to meet energy demand, but we also know we have creative solutions, ways to get more out of our grid without expensive new infrastructure projects,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, chair of the state House Energy Committee. “By making it easier to get projects online and making smart use of the energy we produce during peak demand, Rep. Inglis and Rep. Rivera’s bills will strengthen our grid and better prepare our energy sector for a changing world.”

All three bills will move to the full House chamber for further consideration.