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HB 2595

An Act amending the act of November 30, 2004 (P.L.1672, No.213), known as the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, providing for interconnection reviews.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sean Dougherty and 9 co-sponsors

The bill streamlines and tightens interconnection reviews for renewable projects to speed approvals and improve reliability and predictability of connecting to the grid.

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Bill Summary · HB 2595

Summary of HB 2595 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

HB 2595 amends the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of November 30, 2004 (42 Pa.C.S. ch. 8, also known as the AEPS Act). The primary objective is to adjust procedures related to the interconnection of alternative energy projects (e.g., solar, wind, and other eligible technologies) to the electric grid. The bill focuses on formalizing and potentially expediting interconnection reviews to improve reliability, predictability, and processing timelines for projects seeking to connect to the distribution or transmission system.

Key provisions and changes

  • Interconnection reviews framework: The bill establishes or modifies the process by which electric utilities and/or the Independent System Operator (or equivalent state entities) conduct interconnection studies and reviews for proposed renewable and alternative energy projects.
  • Timeline improvements: Provisions are expected to set or tighten timeframes for completing interconnection studies, issuing decisions, and communicating study results to developers and other stakeholders.
  • Coordination with AEPS goals: By streamlining interconnection reviews, the measure aims to support the achievement of the AEPS targets (which set requirements for the share of electricity produced from eligible renewable and alternative energy sources within Pennsylvania).
  • Regulatory alignment: The bill may require regulatory agencies to adopt rules or guidance to implement the revised interconnection review process, ensuring consistency across utilities and regions within the state.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Provisions likely call for input from utilities, developers, and other stakeholders in shaping the interconnection process and any performance standards.

Who would be affected

  • Renewable energy developers: Entities proposing new solar, wind, or other eligible projects seeking to interconnect to the grid would be directly impacted by the revised timelines and process requirements.
  • Electric utilities and system operators: Utilities and any state-operated/oversight bodies involved in the interconnection screening, study, and approval processes would implement the updated procedures.
  • Consumers and ratepayers: Indirectly affected, as more predictable interconnection timelines can influence project costs, project delivery, and the pace of renewable energy deployment, which can impact electricity prices and reliability.
  • Regulatory and state agencies: Agencies responsible for enforcement and guidance on AEPS compliance would align rules to the updated process.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative status: As of the given information, the bill is introduced with a framework to amend the AEPS Act; specific dates, committee referrals, and voting timeline would follow standard Pennsylvania legislative procedure.
  • Implementation timeline: The bill likely prescribes effective dates for the new interconnection review requirements, with potential phased or immediate applicability depending on final text.
  • Rulemaking implications: If the bill requires department rulemaking, affected agencies would publish proposed regulations, solicit public comment, and finalize rules to operationalize interconnection review changes.

Additional notes

  • The bill is sponsored in part by a bipartisan group of co-sponsors (John Inglis, Tarik Khan, Elizabeth Fiedler, Joe Hohenstein, Sean Dougherty), indicating potential cross-party support or interest in streamlining renewables integration.
  • Specific dollar amounts, detailed performance standards, and exact procedural steps would be detailed in the final bill language and any accompanying committee amendments.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, industry stakeholders, or general public) or incorporate any available fiscal notes and explicit timelines from the bill’s text or committee materials.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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