House Republicans Unveil 11-Bill Energy Package to Keep the Lights On, Costs Down

July 1, 2026

HARRISBURG—As PJM issued a Maximum Generation Emergency amid extreme heat and warned of a mounting strain on the regional electric grid, House Republicans yesterday unveiled a comprehensive 10-bill legislative package designed to keep the lights on, lower electricity costs, expand reliable baseload generation, and cement Pennsylvania's role as America's energy leader.

“Pennsylvania is in a unique position to be an energy powerhouse because of the abundance of resources we have,” said Rep. Joshua D. Kail. “Having Pennsylvania produce more baseload energy will create family-sustaining jobs and prevent brownouts and blackouts—two devastating scenarios residents face if we do not reverse the status quo. I’m proud to help lead this effort to keep the lights on and costs down because removing obstacles creates opportunities.”

The legislative package, sponsored by Reps. Mike Armanini, Eric Davanzo, Jonathan Fritz, Joshua D. Kail, Dallas Kephart, Roman Kozak, Thomas Kutz, Kristin Marcell, Eric Nelson, David H. Rowe and Andrea Verobish, reflects a collaborative effort to strengthen Pennsylvania's energy future. The bills are organized around three priorities: building more energy, lowering costs, and strengthening grid reliability.

Building More Energy
The package streamlines permitting, modernizes the environmental review process, and provides greater certainty for businesses investing in Pennsylvania. These reforms include:

• Establishing a one-year timeline for environmental permit appeals.
• Creating a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Permit Ombudsman to assist applicants and improve permitting efficiency.
• Modernizing Environmental Hearing Board appeals to focus on the administrative record developed during permitting.
• Eliminating the DEP regulatory petition process that allows outside organizations to initiate new regulations.
• Aligning state environmental permitting standards with applicable federal standards.

"All too often, bureaucracy and red tape unnecessarily slows the permitting process, which drives up project costs, slows energy production and ultimately, punishes consumers," Davanzo said. "Permit reviewers and other regulators need to adopt an approach of working with applicants rather than working against them."

“Projects are getting significantly delayed and killed during the appeals process at a time when we desperately need more electricity added to our 13-state grid,” said Armanini.

Lowering Costs for Consumers
Recognizing that rising electricity prices are burdening Pennsylvania families and businesses, the package includes reforms to:

• Eliminate the Gross Receipts Tax on electric utility service.
• Protect Pennsylvania ratepayers from subsidizing electric transmission costs driven by other states through a Pennsylvania-first grid reliability approach.

“Pennsylvania is the nation's largest exporter of electricity, yet our families continue to face higher energy costs,” said Marcell. “PJM's recent emergency actions highlight the consequences of energy policies that have reduced reliable generation in neighboring states. Pennsylvanians should not be forced to shoulder those costs. We need policies that support reliable energy production and keep electricity affordable for the people who produce it.”

“We can achieve responsible development if we clear the path here in Harrisburg,” said Nelson. “Because more power equals lower prices. And the most affordable energy is the power that we're able to produce right here at home.”

“Eliminating the Gross Receipts Tax on electric utility service would remove a charge that utilities currently pass along to customers," said Kutz. "Without this tax, ratepayers could see nearly a 6% reduction on their electric bills. Reducing these costs can help ensure families aren’t forced to choose between paying their utility bill and covering other essential needs. The policy is designed to have a direct, measurable impact on monthly expenses and offer meaningful relief to families across Pennsylvania.”

"Pennsylvania plays a major role in generating energy for residents within the Commonwealth and supplying energy for several neighboring states. If we want to continue being an energy powerhouse, we must have the generators to do it,” Verobish said. “We have an opportunity here to better support Pennsylvanians by producing and valuing our energy to the fullest extent."

Strengthening Grid Reliability
To ensure Pennsylvania can meet growing electricity demand while maintaining affordable and dependable power, the package also:

• Replaces the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards with a Reliable Energy Portfolio Standard that prioritizes dependable, dispatchable generation.
• Protects consumer energy choice through a uniform statewide policy that preserves access to a variety of energy sources.
• Ensures projects with valid DEP permits are not unnecessarily stalled while permit appeals are pending.

“Electricity demand is rising, reliable generation is retiring faster than it's being replaced, and PJM has made it clear the status quo isn't sustainable,” said Causer. “Pennsylvania has every advantage to lead, but we need policies that encourage investment, strengthen reliability and bring new generation online before we're forced to confront even greater challenges.”

“While expensive mandates for ‘alternative energy’ are being imposed, our grid has become less reliable,” Kozak said. “We very clearly do not have an adequate supply of baseload energy to keep our lights on in the years ahead. This is pushing our region toward a future of brownouts, blackouts and higher energy costs. The General Assembly must make sure that our utilities procure baseload power from reliable and affordable sources, like natural gas, nuclear, and coal. These will be able to continuously power our grid and keep the lights on without forcing the utilization of intermittent sources of power.”

“The choice is ours. We can become the energy hub that powers America's next era of growth, or we can watch investment, jobs, and opportunity go elsewhere. House Republicans are choosing to lead,” said Rowe.

Representative David H. Rowe
85th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nancy Nilson
717.787.3443
nnilson@pahousegop.com
www.pagoppolicy.com