Harrisburg, PA. – Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives elected Bryan Cutler as its new Speaker. The House Republican Caucus also selected a new leadership slate, including Kerry Benninghoff as Majority Leader and Donna Oberlander as Majority Whip.
The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) issued the following statement in response:
“We congratulate Bryan Cutler on his election as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and pledge to work with him and with newly elected leaders in the Republican Caucus on policies that strengthen the Pennsylvania economy, create income for the commonwealth’s farmers and provide jobs during the current recession.
“We look forward to working with Speaker Cutler, Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff and the entire Republican leadership team to implement community solar policies that will grow Pennsylvania’s economy without burdening taxpayers.
“The Community Solar Act (HB 531), sponsored by Rep. Aaron D. Kaufer will boost Pennsylvania’s economy, create revenue to help sustain farms, grow good-paying jobs and save consumers money on their energy bills. It will allow consumers, businesses and communities that currently cannot access solar energy to subscribe to a shared solar generation project and receive a credit for savings on their electric bill. It also provides a crucial new revenue source to rural communities in the form of tax revenues and to farmers by allowing them to lease their land for the installation of solar panels on roofs or unused fields.”