Gov. Edward G. Rendell, D-Pa., has approved House Bill 1203, a bill designed to encourage electricity suppliers to incorporate more clean energy solutions into the portfolio of resources used to provide service to their customers.
Among other provisions, the bill additionally requires utilities to plan ahead in making electricity purchases to ensure they are able to meet standards; ensures that alternative energy credits remain the property of the individual or alternative energy system from which they were generated, unless a legal agreement states otherwise; and makes clear that only renewable energy produced within the commonwealth and renewable energy produced within the territory of the grid operator serving the regulated energy utility may satisfy the utility's alternative energy purchasing requirement.
At the ceremony, Rendell noted that both Conergy and Gamesa have chosen Pennsylvania as the base for their North American headquarters in recent years. The commitments by the two wind power companies will result in more than 1,000 new jobs and more than $200 million in new investments in Pennsylvania, according to the governor's office.