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WHEREAS, community energy facilities allow customers to choose the source of their electricity, including customers that desire to purchase solar energy but do not have a suitable conditions to install their own solar facility; and,
WHEREAS, community solar facilities are a more decentralized, resilient, and efficient way to deliver electricity to ratepayers; and WHEREAS, community solar facilities have been shown to save households 10% on their electricity costs; and,
WHEREAS, a recent study from Penn State University determined that constructing the 235 community solar facilities planned in Pennsylvania could add 520 permanent jobs and $83.3 million of annual economic activity; and,
WHEREAS, Governor Shapiro has called for the creation of community energy programs as part of his Lightning Plan; and,
WHEREAS, 24 states currently have specific enabling legislation for community energy, which provides a framework that supports the production of community energy facilities in those states; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, calls on the Pennsylvania State Senate to approve House Bill 504, the Community Energy Act, as proposed by Representative Peter Schweyer, and passed 114 votes to 89 votes in the Pennsylvania House, to provide for community energy facilities.