What is PRESS? (HB 2277 | SB 1190)

The Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) is an expansion of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS), which requires that electric distribution companies and electric generation suppliers include a specific percentage of electricity from alternative resources in the generation that they sell to Pennsylvania customers. While AEPS had two tiers, PRESS proposes three, with tier 1 clean, renewable energy sources increasing from 8% to 35% by 2035.

What is PACER? (HB 2275 | SB 1191)

The Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) Act is a PA-specific cap-and-invest program, which allows Pennsylvania to determine its own cap on carbon and invest directly in lowering consumers’ electricity bills.

How will PRESS and PACER benefit Pennsylvanians?

A recent study found that when PRESS is combined with the governor’s PACER cap-and-invest program, consumers save $252 million on their utility bills in the first five years. Together, this will save the average household $329 between 2025 and 2042. With 17,500 new jobs being generated each year, 278,000 cumulative jobs will be created from PACER and PRESS during that same period. Additionally, the two policies will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions: 224 million tons of CO2, 55,750 tons of NOx, and 42,000 tons of SO2 reduction projected. Finally, it also would increase federal clean energy investments coming to Pennsylvania to $5.7 billion by 2032, 50% more than if no action is taken.