HR 53 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study regarding the feasibility and potential benefits of the development of offshore hydropower, solar and wind renewable energy generation systems on Lake Erie.

PRINTER'S NO.   473

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 53
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY MERSKI, KHAN, RABB, GIRAL, NEILSON, SANCHEZ,
        PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, HARKINS, GREEN, HANBIDGE, BURGOS, WAXMAN,
        WEBSTER AND STEELE, FEBRUARY 4, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
        PROTECTION, FEBRUARY 4, 2025


                                A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
 2      study regarding the feasibility and potential benefits of the
 3      development of offshore hydropower, solar and wind renewable
 4      energy generation systems on Lake Erie.
 5      WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is recognized as being one of the
 6   leading states in the nation for energy production; and
 7      WHEREAS, While Pennsylvania's renewable energy production is
 8   increasing, this Commonwealth still ranks near the bottom in the
 9   nation for renewable energy generation; and
10      WHEREAS, According to data from the Federal Energy
11   Information Administration, as of 2023, Pennsylvania ranked 45th
12   in the nation in energy production from hydropower, solar and
13   wind; and
14      WHEREAS, In 2023, more than half of the 250,000 jobs added in
15   the energy sector were in renewable energy and jobs in renewable
16   energy grew at more than twice the rate of the overall United
17   States labor market; and
18      WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of
 1   Energy's annual United States Energy and Employment Report
 2   published in September 2024, renewable energy jobs comprise more
 3   than 40% of the country's 8.35 million people employed in the
 4   energy industry; and
 5      WHEREAS, Renewable energy projects are not only good for the
 6   environment by helping to reduce air pollution and carbon
 7   emissions, but jobs in the renewable energy production sector
 8   are generally good-paying, family-sustaining jobs due to the
 9   high demand for skilled workers and the rapid growth of the
10   sector; and
11      WHEREAS, Erie County is home to a strong manufacturing
12   infrastructure, training programs, institutions that focus on
13   manufacturing innovation and skills and a skilled workforce that
14   can tap into the renewable energy economy for both northwestern
15   Pennsylvania and the entire Commonwealth; therefore be it
16      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
17   State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a
18   report on the feasibility and potential benefits or drawbacks of
19   developing offshore hydropower, solar and wind energy projects
20   on Pennsylvania's portion of Lake Erie; and be it further
21      RESOLVED, That the study:
22          (1)    identify and examine the potential job creation by
23      developing offshore hydropower, solar and wind energy
24      projects on Pennsylvania's portion of Lake Erie, including
25      the types of jobs that may be created, such as construction,
26      maintenance and manufacturing of parts and transportation,
27      and the expected salary of each type of job;
28          (2)    aggregate the existing economic impact analysis of
29      the establishment of offshore hydropower, solar and wind
30      energy projects on Pennsylvania's portion of Lake Erie;

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 1          (3)     identify best practices for the development and
 2      implementation of offshore hydropower, solar and wind energy
 3      projects for the Lake Erie region;
 4          (4)     aggregate the potential reduction in air and climate
 5      pollution and carbon emissions that may be diverted by
 6      developing offshore hydropower, solar and wind energy on
 7      Pennsylvania's portion of Lake Erie; and
 8          (5)     aggregate the amount of power that may be created
 9      from offshore hydropower, solar and wind energy projects on
10      Pennsylvania's portion of Lake Erie, and the projected number
11      of houses that this energy could approximately power on an
12      annual basis;
13   and be it further
14      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission consult
15   with organizations and businesses that:
16          (1)     have organizational missions and expertise in the
17      development, production and maintenance of offshore
18      hydropower, solar and wind energy projects in the United
19      States, or make parts and components necessary for these
20      projects;
21          (2)     have expertise on aquatic habitat protection, bird
22      habitat and migratory flight patterns and ecosystem
23      protection;
24          (3)     are labor leaders and experts in the region and
25      Statewide; and
26          (4)     have knowledge of relevant issues;
27   and be it further
28      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be
29   authorized to consult with surrounding states and business
30   leaders that have knowledge of relevant issues; and be it

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 1   further
 2      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission prepare
 3   a report of its findings and recommendations and submit the
 4   report to the following no later than 12 months after the
 5   adoption of this resolution:
 6             (1)   The chair and minority chair of the Communications
 7      and Technology Committee of the Senate.
 8             (2)   The chair and minority chair of the Environmental
 9      Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate.
10             (3)   The chair and minority chair of the Labor and
11      Industry Committee of the Senate.
12             (4)   The chair and minority chair of the Consumer
13      Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee of the House
14      of Representatives.
15             (5)   The chair and minority chair of the Energy Committee
16      of the House of Representatives.
17             (6)   The chair and minority chair of the Environmental
18      and Natural Resource Protection Committee of the House of
19      Representatives.
20             (7)   The chair and minority chair of the Labor and
21      Industry Committee of the House of Representatives.




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