Carlisle council hears resolutions to back community solar, explore municipal aggregation

Councilor Shiles told the council on Nov. 5 that he is circulating two related resolutions: one calling on the Pennsylvania legislature to pass House Bill 504 to enable community solar programs for residents who cannot install rooftop solar, and a second authorizing the borough to participate in a Pennsylvania Electricity Plan collaborative to pursue municipal community choice aggregation (CCA).

Councilor Shiles described the first resolution as a request for the borough to encourage the state Senate to act on HB504 so residents who rent or lack suitable rooftops could subscribe to shared solar generation and receive bill credits. "We would like it to pass the senate," Shiles said, describing community solar as a way to correct the inequity faced by renters and shaded roofs. He said the CCA resolution would allow the borough to participate in a joint request for proposals so residents could opt in voluntarily and potentially receive more stable pricing and greater access to renewable electricity.

During public comment, resident Jen McDuffie said community solar would address fairness for people who cannot put panels on their homes: "Community solar would correct this inequity, and it should be a no brainer," she told the council. Shiles also noted that the resolution form includes a blank for an appointed representative and that he would be willing to serve as the borough's representative pending formal council action.

Councilors did not vote on the resolutions at the workshop; Shiles said formal action is expected at the next council meeting (the item was tabled for consideration and formal adoption next week). The mayor and staff discussed logistics, including that any RFP and CCA participation would be voluntary for residents and that the borough would need to finalize a representative before moving forward.

What was not decided: No formal votes were taken at the workshop to adopt either resolution. Funding, contract terms, and any consumer-protection specifics would be addressed if the council formally adopts the resolutions and authorizes staff to proceed with an RFP.

Speakers and proponents asked the council to weigh equity and consumer protections in any subsequent agreements, and Shiles emphasized that municipal aggregation is complementary to community solar and could be structured to offer longer-term price stability than short-term introductory commercial offers.