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WHEREAS, climate change impacts the public health, environment, and economy in Pittsburgh and directly causes increased flooding, landslides, and poor air quality days; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord, including a 50 percent reduction in carbon pollution by 2030; and,
WHEREAS, buildings account for 80 percent of Pittsburgh's total carbon pollution; and,
WHEREAS, according to an American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy report, Pittsburgh, where low-income households spend nearly 10 percent of their earnings on energy, has the sixth highest energy burdens in the nation. African-American households in Pittsburgh have the second highest energy burden in the nation; and,
WHEREAS, Allegheny County enjoys the highest number of energy efficiency and clean energy jobs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and there is ample opportunity to build on that progress by employing thousands more Pittsburghers in good-paying jobs retrofitting our buildings; and,
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Act 129 requires the state's largest electric distribution companies, including Duquesne Light in the Pittsburgh region, to help their customers save energy through investments in energy efficiency; and,
WHEREAS, in the last seven years, Duquesne Light's Act 129 programs have reduced carbon pollution by 390,000 tons and delivered over $200 million in benefits to its customers; and,
WHEREAS, additional investments in energy efficiency beyond the requirements of Act 129 are limited by cap under state law; and,
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Senate Bill 232 and its companion House Bill 193, both of which have bipartisan support, work to strengthen Act 129 by removing the arbitrary limit on utility investment in energy efficiency and carbon reduction programs; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby urge the Pennsylvania Senate and Pennsylvania House to approve Se...
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