Committee approves study of renewable energy potential on Pennsylvania’s portion of Lake Erie

The House Environmental Committee voted to report out House Resolution 53, which directs the Joint State Government Commission to study the feasibility and potential impacts of hydropower, solar, wind and kinetic energy development on Pennsylvania’s portion of Lake Erie.

Sponsor Rep. Mirsky said the study would help answer questions raised during prior proposals, including effects on bird habitat, aquatic life, shipping, recreation and whether projects could be sited without affecting Presque Isle State Park. “I worked with folks, stakeholders, from all sides to come up with this study,” Rep. Mirsky said, adding the Joint State Government Commission was chosen after consultation with the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee.

Committee members debated the merits and limits of a study. Chair Rader and others raised concerns about Pennsylvania’s limited ownership of Lake Erie and possible impacts to recreation, shipping and tourism. Rep. Steele and other members said the study could yield useful information that applies to rivers and inland waterways, citing interest in turbine-based river generation in other districts.

Rep. Mirsky noted prototypes and existing small-scale kinetic projects in his district and said the study would help determine whether offshore or other sites could be developed responsibly and whether the commonwealth should pursue leasing submerged lands for energy generation.

A roll call followed; the chair announced the resolution was reported out of committee. Several members registered ‘‘no’’ votes on the record during the roll call, but a majority supported the study motion.