A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a report on waste heat recovery in this Commonwealth.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 16 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania directs a formal JSGC study on waste heat recovery to assess sources, technologies, feasibility, benefits, barriers, and policy options with a final report and recomme

Referred to Energy

Summary of HR 564 (Session: 2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and Intent

Directs the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) to conduct a thorough study on waste heat recovery within Pennsylvania.

Requires JSGC to issue a report detailing findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on the study.

Key Provisions and Changes

Mandates a formal study led by the Joint State Government Commission. The exact scope items typically included in such studies may cover:

Overview of waste heat sources in the Commonwealth (industrial processes, power generation, manufacturing, data centers, etc.).
Current capture, reuse, and conversion technologies for waste heat.
Economic feasibility, costs, and potential savings from waste heat recovery projects.
Environmental and efficiency benefits (emissions reductions, energy efficiency gains).
Regulatory, permitting, and policy barriers or incentives needed to promote waste heat recovery.
Potential models for implementation (public-private partnerships, incentives, pilot programs).

Requires a finalized report to be issued to the General Assembly (and potentially the public) with recommendations.

Who/What Is Affected

State policymakers and agencies that interact with energy policy, environmental regulation, and economic development.

Industries and sectors that generate significant waste heat (e.g., manufacturing, power generation, data centers, and other large energy users) that could potentially implement waste heat recovery.

Stakeholders may include utilities, industry associations, environmental groups, and local governments depending on the final recommendations.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

The measure initiates a formal study by the JSGC, subject to the Commission’s procedures and scheduling.

The bill specifies a reporting timeline for the JSGC to deliver findings and recommendations to the General Assembly. (Exact due date not provided in the summary; typically, resolutions include a specific timeframe, such as within 12–24 months, for interim and final reports.)

As a joint resolution directing study, it does not itself authorize spending or create new mandates but may influence subsequent legislation or policy decisions based on the report.

Practical Implications

If the study identifies viable waste heat recovery pathways, the Commonwealth could pursue new policies or incentives to promote deployment.

Potential outcomes include:

Recommendations for tax credits, grants, or low-interest financing to support projects.
Guidance on permitting streamlining or regulatory adjustments.
Pilot programs in key industrial sectors to demonstrate feasibility.
Economic analyses outlining job creation, energy savings, and environmental benefits.

Notes

The bill lists a broad slate of co-sponsors, indicating bipartisan and cross-ideological interest in examining energy efficiency and industrial processes.

Specific technical details, data collection methods, and the scope of the report will be defined by the JSGC during the study process.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to focus on particular aspects (economic impact, environmental benefits, or regulatory implications) or compare it to similar waste heat recovery studies in other states.