Senate Bill 630 is the only Republican-prime sponsored legislation of its kind in the nation
Senator Tom Killion (R-Chester and Delaware) joined hundreds of citizens in the Capitol rotunda yesterday to rally for his legislation, Senate Bill 630, which would require Pennsylvania’s transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.
Organized by the group PennEnvironment, the rally was the culmination of the state’s largest annual environmental advocacy day in Harrisburg.
“This is the largest crowd I’ve ever seen on any individual issue,” noted Killion in his remarks to the gathering. “The environment is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. We all want a cleaner environment. I’m proud to join my colleagues here from both the Senate and House to move this important bill forward.”
Referring to Killion, campaign director for PennEnvironment Flora Cardoni noted, “Pennsylvania is the only state in the country where the lead sponsor of this legislation is a Republican.”
Designed to foster Pennsylvania’s energy independence and security while simultaneously providing for private and public investment in clean energy and energy-efficient projects, Senate Bill 630 would establish a Clean Energy Transition Task Force, a Clean Energy Center of Excellence and a Council for Clean Energy Workforce Development.
Those entities would be tasked with evaluating current pollution-related issues affecting Pennsylvania and its residents while providing a pathway to the state’s conversion to clean energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
Joining Killion were state Representatives Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) and Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia), as well as Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia).
“It’s time for those of us who believe in a just transition to a renewable energy-powered Pennsylvania to come together and raise our collective voice in Harrisburg to demand climate action and environmental justice,” said Rabb, lead sponsor of the House companion legislation.
“This is what Pennsylvania wants,” said Fiedler.
“We are tasked with a responsibility that is not just our own,” said Hughes, referring to the health and well-being of the children who were a part of the rally.
“The transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy would create thousands of jobs in our state, unleashing a modern, newly-skilled workforce,” said Killion, emphasizing the economic benefits of the clean energy revolution. “My bill would also give academic institutions the opportunity to advance new fields of technology as they educate the next generation of Pennsylvania’s technology-based workers.”
“I have two grandchildren,” said Killion. “I want a clean world for them and for all our families. We need to start moving to 100 percent renewable energy now.”
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