As Evangelicals committed to defending the life and health of every child the Evangelical Environmental Network celebrates the recent bipartisan passage of House Bill 1032, the Solar for Schools Grant Program, in the Senate. By diversifying our energy mix, this bill will add more reliable, renewable energy to the grid and a better school environment for our children to learn in. We are grateful to Representative Fiedler, District 184, for her leadership sponsoring the bill and are especially grateful to the 24 Republican Senators who voted in support of House Bill 1032:

Senator Argall, District 29

Senator Aument, District 36

Senator Baker, District 29

Senator Bartolotta, District 46

Senator Brewster, District 45

Senator Brooks, District 50

Senator Brown, District 40

Senator Culver, District 27

Senator Dush, District 25

Senator Farry, District 6

Senator Gebhard, District 48

Senator Langerholc, District 35

Senator Laughlin, District 49

Senator Martin, District 13

Senator Phillips-Hill, District 28

Senator Pittman, District 41

Senator Regan, District 31

Senator Robinson, District 37

Senator Rothman, District 34

Senator Stefano, District 32

Senator Vogel, District 47

Senator J. Ward, District 30

Senator K. Ward, District 39

Senator Yaw, District 32
 

HB 1032 opens up new doors and avenues for school districts to reap the benefits of solar who may not ordinarily be able to do so because of the upfront financial investment. The bill would encourage private investment and creation of local jobs through the entire solar supply chain including installers, contractors, investors and site preparation. Most of all, this bill would increase the amount of clean, pollution-free energy coming onto the grid. Having now passed the House and Senate in Pennsylvania, the bill now moves to the Governor for signature. 

Carolyn Heckman, the Associate Director of Pennsylvania Policy for EEN, states:

“Pennsylvania has made good on the opportunity to defend children’s health through the proposed bill, House Bill 1032, the Solar for Schools Grant Program. As Evangelicals, defending children’s health is not just an ethical calling, but a biblical one. “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy” (Psalm 82:3-4). The Solar for Schools Grant Program would create a grant to fund solar energy assessments and help pay for installation and equipment for a solar energy system for schools throughout our commonwealth.

Pennsylvania has historically been an energy leader, but we have been falling behind other states in the necessary transition to renewable energy. HB 1032 will now help us reap the economic benefits of solar for school districts while creating energy in ways that minimize the health impact on the hearts, minds and lungs of our children. We thank the PA Senate, and especially the Senate Republicans who voted in favor of HB 1032, for coming together and putting differences aside to defend the health and lives of all Pennsylvanians. This is a historic win-win-win for schools in Pennsylvania!”