PITTSBURGH, PA – May 20, 2025 − Today, Senator Jay Costa announces $376,995 in Solar for Schools Grant money benefiting the 43rd senatorial district.
“Today’s Solar for Schools grant announcement is cause for much celebration,” said Senator Costa. “I am delighted that the two awardees are now one step closer to installing green, renewable energy systems and demonstrating to our students the enormous benefits of solar energy on an entire school community. I am deeply grateful to Representative Liz Fiedler for her tireless work on this program, and I look forward to seeing these dollars to go work right here in the 43rd district.”
The awardees are as follows:
- Carrick High School was awarded $300,000
- Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship was awarded $76,995
The Solar for Schools Grant Program is established pursuant to the act of Jul 17, 2024 (P.L.813, No. 68) known as the Solar for Schools Act. This program seeks to reduce the cost of implementing solar energy systems into schools across the Commonwealth. In order to accomplish this goal, the Department of Community and Economic Development has established a grant program that school districts, intermediate units, charter schools including cyber, regional, and a school for education of the deaf or the blind, area career and technical schools, specific trade and technical schools, and community colleges can use to fund solar energy projects. These grants will aid in the purchase and installation of equipment, permit fees, energy storage, and utility interconnection.
Learn more about the Lightning Plan and its investments in green energy production here.
Learn more about the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats’ commitment to every Pennsylvanian here.
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PITTSBURGH, PA – May 14, 2025 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 500, a critical part of Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan which updates the Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) Tax Credit Program to bring next-generation energy, fuel, and dairy development to Pennsylvania. That bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
With a looming budget deadline of June 30, Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senator Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny), who circulated a co-sponsorship memo for the Senate version of the PA EDGE Tax Credit Program, are calling for swift, good-faith discussions about how to lower energy costs for Pennsylvania’s consumers.
“As families face the prospect of higher prices for goods, food, and services, the time for a bold, visionary plan for energy in Pennsylvania is now,” said Sen. Costa. “The EDGE Tax Credit is a key pillar for uplifting our commonwealth’s working families. I will continue to champion the Lightning Plan in order to shore up our energy market and modernize tax credit programs. Let’s get this done.”
“Our plan to revamp the EDGE Program is about delivering real relief to working families across Pennsylvania,” said Sen. Pisciottano. “By lowering energy costs, creating high-wage jobs, and investing in the industries of the future, we’re making smart, targeted changes that put Pennsylvanians first and ensure our economy stays competitive for the long haul.”
Learn more about the Senate Democrats’ commitment to affordable energy for every Pennsylvanian here.
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Harrisburg, PA − October 26, 2021 − Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) have introduced legislation that would expand access to solar power through a local voluntary program, while ensuring adequate ratepayer protection.
Senate Bill 919, which would create the PA Local Solar program, seeks to allow electric utilities to establish subscriber programs, by which customers can choose to purchase 100% local solar energy, rather than the traditional grid mix. The legislation will give residential and business customers the option to participate in an off-site solar program, but does not mandate participation, nor require any state funding.
“The number of customers who would like to purchase solar energy is on the rise,” said Senator Laughlin. “However, those who live in apartment buildings or in a location that is not conducive to solar energy production are currently unable to participate in Pennsylvania’s growing solar economy. There are also many others who wish to participate, but lack the financial resources required for rooftop solar installations.”
“This bill will allow those who truly believe in renewable energy, but live in settings that are not conducive to generating it, to put their money where it will back up their desire for a cleaner grid,” Senator Laughlin said.
“Our bill provides customers with the opportunity to purchase solar energy from local solar projects,” said Senator Costa. “By providing all customers with the opportunity to choose solar power, we expand the reach of renewable energy into our communities, while creating jobs right here in Pennsylvania.”
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Harrisburg, Pa. − July 30, 2020 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today introduced Senate Bill 15, creating a “Cap and Invest” program for the state’s electric power sector, along with the support of 17 cosponsors.
“The federal government has abdicated responsibility on climate change — states, local governments, private companies and citizens must take the lead in enacting equitable policies to mitigate the growing impacts of climate change,” said Senator Costa.
The legislation will instruct the Environmental Quality Board to reduce carbon pollution emissions from the electric power sector – the largest source of emissions in Pennsylvania – by at least 90% by 2040 relative to baseline emissions. The Board can develop a market-based carbon pollution limit, which ensures a technology neutral, flexible approach that incentivizes the most cost-effective emission reductions and generates revenue for investments in economic development, workforce training, energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy affordability.
The legislation also enables the Board to adopt mechanisms that facilitate deployment of zero—emissions technologies, measures that provide for ongoing assessment of emission sources in the electric power sector that adversely affect disadvantaged communities and for reductions in harmful air pollution affecting communities, protect against emissions leakage across state borders, and to join one or more multijurisdictional programs for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (aka RGGI).
“Pennsylvania has already made important strides towards reducing greenhouse gases, and mayors from Pennsylvania’s two largest cities have already committed to reducing carbon emissions,” said Senator Costa. “But more work is needed to achieve emission reductions and to make sure Pennsylvania isn’t left behind in the burgeoning growth of clean energy technologies and jobs.”
Further, the bill provides that revenue generated from the program be directed towards programs that promote clean air, mitigate utility bill impacts and protect low-income consumers, increase energy efficiency, and assist workers and communities impacted by the closure of power plants or mines.
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For many PA cities, air quality was unhealthy around 1 out of every 4 days
PITTSBURGH, PA – January 28, 2020 – Millions of Pennsylvanians across the state are breathing months’ worth of poor air quality due to pollution in 2018, according to a new report released today by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group. The groups’ report was released as Pittsburgh and other metropolitan areas experienced unhealthy air days this month, an uncommon experience in wintertime for the Commonwealth’s cities.
“No Pennsylvanian should have to experience a single day of polluted air — let alone several months,” said Zachary Barber, the Clean Air Advocate with PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center. “Air quality will only get worse as our climate warms, so we have no time to lose. We must make progress toward clean air.”
For the report, Trouble in the Air: Millions of Americans Breathed Polluted Air in 2018, researchers reviewed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air pollution records from across the country. The report focuses on ground-level ozone and fine particulate pollution, harmful pollutants that come from industrial sources and the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, diesel, gasoline, natural gas and from other sources. Air pollution increases the risk of premature death, asthma attacks, and other adverse health impacts.
“As nurses, we see the impacts of air quality each day. As a mother, I’ve seen the impacts of poor air
quality in my own children and among their peers,” said Dr. Kelly Kuhns, Chair of the Department of Nursing at Millersville University and member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. “Most people understand that air pollution can increase the risk and incidence of asthma and other breathing problems. These risks are especially significant in our most vulnerable populations – our children and our elderly.”
The report’s troubling findings come at a time when the federal government is further endangering air quality by dismantling protections under the Clean Air Act such as California’s clean car standards, which Pennsylvania had joined.
“The data show that America’s existing air quality standards aren’t doing enough to protect our health,” said Elizabeth Ridlington, Policy Analyst with Frontier Group and co-author of the report. “As the climate warms, higher temperatures and more severe wildfires increase air pollution and the threat to human health.”
Recommendations the report called on policymakers at all levels of government to:
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Oppose the Trump Administration’s rollbacks to critical clean air protections like the Clean Power Plan, the Mercury Air Toxics Standards and clean car rules.
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Cut pollution from transportation by switching to zero-emission electric vehicles
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Support Pennsylvania’s proposal to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which would dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions from industrial sources, and the Transportation and Climate Initiative, which would tackle carbon emissions from cars and trucks
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Rein in the worst sources of industrial pollution including Pittsburgh’s Toxic Ten.
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Fully fund environmental watchdogs like the PA Department of Environmental Protection
“We can’t wait for leadership from above – it’s not coming. If we want to protect our air and our water, we have to do it ourselves,” said State Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa. “With the research and activism that PennEnvironment and other groups are doing, I believe we can make real strides in mitigating climate change.”
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PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center is dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We work to protect the places we love, advance the environmental values we share, and win real results for our environment. For more information, visit www.pennenvironmencenter.org.
Harrisburg, Pa − October 22, 2019 − A bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators along with advocates and utility providers came together in Harrisburg today to announce plans for a local solar program.
“In my district, I have seen a huge spike in folks interested in reducing their carbon footprint and making their homes more energy efficient, but sometimes – cost gets in their way,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “It is great to work on an issue collaboratively with the opposite party and chamber, as well as the utility sector and environmental advocates. That’s the kind of support that the PA Local Solar Program has.”
The proposed program, PA Local Solar, would allow electric utilities in Pennsylvania to establish subscriber programs, by which electric customers could elect to purchase 100% localized solar energy, rather than the traditional grid mix. PA Local Solar provides citizens and businesses with the choice to participate in an off-site solar program, but does not mandate participation, nor require any state funding.
Represenative Lori Mizgorski has a companion bill in the House.
“I am excited to introduce House Bill 1970, which expands access to solar power in Pennsylvania,” said Mizgorski. “Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available but is limited to the traditional grid mix. My legislation eliminates barriers and provides all customers with the opportunity to purchase solar energy from local solar projects, located right here in Pennsylvania. By providing all customers with the opportunity to choose solar power, we expand the reach of renewable energy into all communities.”
“Duquesne Light is proud to support the PA Local Solar Program, which will provide our customers with the option to choose 100% localized renewable energy, even if they do not have access to rooftop solar,” said Steve Malnight, Duquesne Light Company President and CEO. “The program will allow us to better serve the growing number of customers who want solar energy and expand the reach of renewable energy in the Greater Pittsburgh area.”
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