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House passes EDGE 2.0 energy and manufacturing tax-credit package after floor debate
Summary
The House passed House Bill 500, which revises and expands the Pennsylvania EDGE tax credit program to add incentives for reliable energy, hydrogen, semiconductor and other manufacturing projects; final passage recorded 108 yeas and 95 nays.
The Pennsylvania House on May 14 passed House Bill 500, a revision and expansion of the EDGE (Economic Development for a Growing Economy) tax credit package that aims to incentivize energy projects, manufacturing and processing investments in the commonwealth.
Representative English, the bill’s floor sponsor, said EDGE 2 would “unlock billions of dollars in new investments” and described six components: a Reliable Energy Investment Tax Credit encouraging energy storage and generation, updates to milk-processing tax credits, regional clean hydrogen tax credits, semiconductor/bio-medical manufacturing and research credits, a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and incentives for geothermal projects.
Opponents on the floor criticized the bill for excluding natural gas and coal from eligibility and for perceived favoritism toward certain technologies. Representative Fink said the bill’s provisions “exclude natural gas and coal,” argued thresholds for the milk-processing credit were too high to help farmers, and said she could not support the bill. Representative Fritz argued the bill eliminated a multibillion-dollar natural gas-powered project in the northeast and urged an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy development. Representative Topper called for repeal of RGGI as an alternative approach to spurring energy production.
Supporters pushed back that EDGE 2 would create jobs and encourage cleaner energy and economic growth; Representative Bradford urged an “all-of-the-above energy policy” endorsement of union jobs and growth.
On final passage the clerk recorded 108 yeas and 95 nays; the bill passed the House and will be returned to the Senate for concurrence.
