PA House Energy Committee holds public hearing on solar-ready warehouse legislation; labor and environmental leaders weigh-in
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus October 7, 2025 | 10:27 AM
HARRISBURG, OCT. 6 – Continuing its efforts to ensure the commonwealth’s energy resources can meet surging demand and curb rising costs, Chair Elizabeth Fiedler convened a meeting of the PA House Energy Committee to discuss solar-readiness requirements for commercial buildings as proposed in H.B. 1260.
Also known as the Solar-Ready Warehouse bill, the legislation would incentivize new warehouses to be built to accommodate solar panels and encourage existing warehouses to be retrofitted for them.
“With energy bills rising, it’s clear we need to bring new generation onto the grid — and solar and battery storage are the fastest and most efficient way to meet demand,” Fiedler said. “House Bill 1260 would accelerate the buildout of solar infrastructure at the moment we need it most while making efficient use of space we already have.”
Pennsylvania is a prime location for this legislation, currently ranking eighth in the nation for the total number of warehouses. State Rep. Joshua Siegel, D-Lehigh, the prime sponsor of H.B. 1260, spoke to the economic benefits of solar-readiness requirements amid a 10-year warehouse development boom in Northeast Pennsylvania.
“Here in the Lehigh Valley, we’ve seen warehouse after warehouse go up, adding more than 44 million square feet since 2015. That’s over 1,000 acres of roof space, and under H.B. 1260, 40% of it could be used to generate clean, local power,” Siegel said. “Families in our region are getting hit hard by rising electricity bills, and this bill is a chance to add more supply when prices are skyrocketing. By making solar a standard part of warehouse construction and encouraging retrofits, we’re not just investing in renewable energy — we’re making smart use of our land, creating savings for homeowners and generating a revenue stream for local businesses. House Bill 1260 is about making sure this wave of development delivers real, long-term benefits to the communities where these warehouses are being built.”
Patrick McDonnell, president and CEO of PennFuture, testified in support of the bill, citing the immediate need for state-level leadership on clean energy development to strengthen Pennsylvania’s energy portfolio and lower costs for ratepayers.
“At a time when America’s clean energy industry is under severe attack in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania must stand up and help ensure we can diversify our energy portfolio to battle skyrocketing electricity costs and help residents keep the lights on,” McDonnell said. “House Bill 1260 provides a solution that taps into a massive, overlooked opportunity: the rooftops of warehouses and distribution centers. Unlocking hundreds of millions of square feet for solar energy will create jobs, reduce costs for residents and businesses, and make our electric grid more reliable.”
Rob Bair, president of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, also expressed support, emphasizing that the bill not only bolsters a thriving clean energy economy but also addresses concerns over solar projects being developed on farmland and greenfields.
“House Bill 1260 provides a good solution to the argument against large-scale solar using pristine farmland,” Bair said. “Pennsylvania is blessed with many farms and many large-scale warehouses and distribution centers. Utilizing the rooftop space of those warehouses for solar panels accomplishes the goal of building out additional energy sources for the commonwealth, gives warehouse owners an additional revenue stream, and helps preserve farmland.”