Philadelphia council urges state to pass community solar bill and approves package of local ordinances

Philadelphia City Council on Nov. 20 adopted a resolution calling on the Pennsylvania Senate to approve House Bill 504, the Community Energy Act, and approved a series of local ordinances and resolutions on zoning, utilities and worker protections.

Councilman Jamie Gauthier moved adoption of Resolution 250,992 urging passage of HB 504, which proponents say would authorize community solar projects and expand access to clean energy for renters and households who cannot install rooftop panels. Gauthier said the council’s action is a message to Harrisburg that the city wants more clean energy on the grid.

Advocates who testified before the council described community solar as a way to ensure broader access to bill savings and environmental benefits. Ella Wynn Corby of Vote Solar told the council, “Community solar is shared arrays where anyone can subscribe, and get access and get guaranteed bill savings as a result.” Community groups including PennEnvironment and other coalition members spoke in support during the public-comment period.

On the local calendar, council approved a sequence of bills by roll-call votes. Noted actions included passage of Bill 250,707 (amending development impact tax exemptions for rental housing), Bill 250,831 (allowing certain utility uses without special exemption in specified special-purpose districts), and Bill 250,849 (an amendment to the Fair Practices Ordinance extending protections for employees on the basis of menstruation, perimenopause and menopause). The clerk recorded unanimous yesses (ayes 15, nays 0) on those roll calls as read into the record.

Council members framed the measures as part of a larger set of priorities: expanding access to clean energy, protecting workers’ dignity and clarifying zoning and utility rules that affect neighborhood development. Jamie Gauthier said the community-energy resolution complements other local work to keep services affordable and accessible.

The community solar resolution is nonbinding and asks state lawmakers to act. The bills that passed locally will move to the processes required for implementation or, when specified, will be placed on future calendars for administrative action. Several other introduced items were referred to committee for further review.

Aides said the city will continue advocacy in Harrisburg on HB 504; council’s adoption is the city’s formal request that the state Legislature act on the enabling legislation.