You are receiving this alert because you had lent your name to a Wyncote Audubon “Advocate” list several years ago. This list has not been used for some time and you ae being contacted now to help move Community Solar HB 1842 into law. We are working with our sister chapters across the state to contact key members of the PA State Senate. Wyncote Audubon has three critical members of the State Senate to be contacted.

Wyncote Audubon is working to revitalize our “Advocates” committee and contacts as we move forward into the next legislative sessions (2025/2026) in Harrisburg and Washington D.C. We invite you to remain on our list of “Advocates"! You do not need to take any measures to remain of the Advocate list but, if you would like to continue receiving "Updates" only, please email wyncoteaudubonsociety@gmail.com to be removed from Advocates only.

HB 1842 COMMUNITY SOLAR

The members of the General Assembly have been on summer recess over the last few weeks and are not scheduled to return to Harrisburg until mid-September. Rumors of cancelling sessions days, the November 5th election and the “lame duck” session to follow have individuals skeptical that movement on many legislative items will happen. Despite these possibilities, there is still a glimmer of hope that there could be movement on HB 1842, Community Solar Legislation.

Community Solar legislation has been a legislative focus for nearly a decade. The concept is something that most agree is beneficial. We know that solar energy reduces the load on the grid while lowering electric bills. But residents (many who would like to enjoy the benefits of solar) cannot do it on an individual basis, for a myriad of reasons. Community Solar provides a mechanism for targeted solar projects in communities that want them. People can subscribe, save money, and the grid benefits.

There has been significant advancement of Community Solar in the current legislative session. HB 1842 passed out of the House of Representatives on March 26, 2024, in the House with broad bipartisan support (111-90) and moved to the State Senate for their consideration. It is urgent that HB 1842 receives full consideration in the Senate before the current legislative session ends. But first it needs to be called up and voted on favorably by the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee. This Committee needs to vote in the affirmative to move the HB 1842 to a vote before the full senate.



We need the help of our Chapter ADVOCATES to reach out to key State Senators who serve on the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee and whose districts are in portions of our “chapter territory.”  See the PA Senate District Map for our part of Pennsylvania at the end of this alert! Our three State Senators  on the committee are:

Tracey Pennycuick (R) District #24 tpennycuick@pasen.gov

Marion Collett (D) District #12  senatorcollett@pasenate.com

Jimmy Dillon (D) District #5 dillon@pasenate.com

The request is simple – Ask these three State Senators to “URGE COMMITTEE CHAIR PATRICK STEFANO TO CALL UP HB 1842 FOR A VOTE AND TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE” at the next Senate and Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee meeting! 

Communications can be as simple as a phone call, mailed letter, email, or even scheduling an appointment for a meeting at your Senator’s District Office. Make sure you introduce yourself as a member of the Wyncote Audubon Society and that our chapter includes the senate districts which they represent. If you happen to live in Senate District 5, 12, or 24, make sure you let your State Senator know you are a constituent!

Key points for the expansion of solar energy infrastructure via Community Solar are:

• The expansion of solar energy and the reduction on the reliance on fossil fuels is a benefit to birds and the climate. Studies by Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology and others underscore the detrimental impact of higher temperatures on birds. We care about birds!
• Community Solar incentivizes solar development on brownfields and rooftops. Underscore the importance to site smaller solar arrays on preferable locations that include brownfields, warehouse roofs, parking lots, and rooftops. We care about habitat!
• Installation of panels can be accomplished using low-impact methods and include pollinator plantings, beekeeping, and sheep grazing. 
• The passage of HB 1842 moves Pennsylvania among the many other states that have already had the foresight to expand community solar.
• Community Solar makes it possible for more property owners to take advantage of using solar energy as part of their home energy portfolio.

Information about HB 1842 can be located here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2023&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1842

Check the Pennsylvania Audubon Council’s website:

 https://paauduboncouncil.org. 

for additional information and reference through our “Guidelines for Municipalities: Developing Bird-Friendly and Environmentally Responsible Utility-Scale Solar.” Refer to the Executive Summary for an overview.

We also recommend advocates in all of our chapters to be ready to contact their members of the full senate if/when HB 1842 passes from committee as it may move across the Senate floor quickly after it hopefully moves out of committee: Here is a link to find your State Senator: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/mbrList.cfm?body=S



YOU ARE WHAT HOPE LOOKS LIKE TO A BIRD!