The Pennsylvania General Assembly on April 23, 2025 introduced a suite of legislation to implement Governor Josh Shapiro’s six-part “Lightening Plan” to secure the commonwealth’s energy future. A key element of the Lightening Plan is establishing a new Reliable Electric Energy Siting and Electric Transition (RESET) Board to streamline energy infrastructure permitting. Pennsylvania is currently one of only a handful of states that does not have a central siting authority. Such authorities can ensure that large-scale energy generation projects are constructed to meet the surging electric demands of residents, businesses, and data centers.
House Bill (HB) 502, sponsored by 35 legislators, would establish the RESET Board to facilitate the development of new reliable energy sources while limiting adverse effects on health, safety, and the environment. The RESET Board will handle siting decisions for key energy projects needed for long-term energy security in Pennsylvania amid rising energy consumption.
Cutting Red Tape Through Certificates of Reliable Energy Supply
HB 502 allows certain energy infrastructure projects to apply for a certificate of reliable energy supply (CRES) from the RESET Board. Eligible projects include electric generating facilities with a capacity of at least 25 megawatts (MW) and energy storage systems with a minimum output of 10 MW for at least four hours. Once issued, the CRES prevents local governments from imposing additional land use requirements that could impede the facility’s construction or operation.
Applicants for a CRES must demonstrate that the proposed facility is necessary for public service, has the requisite environmental permits, and does not interfere with regional development. The application must also include safety and reliability information, environmental impact studies, and site details. Public participation is part of the application process, involving consultations with local officials and a public hearing held within 45 days of a complete application filing. HB 502 requires the RESET Board to issue its determination on a CRES application within 90 days. Applicants can appeal RESET Board decisions to Pennsylvania’s Environmental Hearing Board, which reviews the administrative record and issues a final decision within 180 days.
Statewide Coordination for Energy Project Siting
Several state agencies and industry groups involved in shaping Pennsylvania’s energy landscape, including the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), will select the members of the RESET Board. HB 502 also establishes a siting advisory council within the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to provide policy recommendations on energy project siting and assist with public participation in the CRES application process.
Other Pennsylvania Efforts to Address Resource Adequacy Concerns
The PUC is investigating challenges arising from the expected unprecedented power needs of large-load customers, such as data centers, in two active regulatory proceedings. In November 2024, PUC held a technical conference regarding resource adequacy in Pennsylvania and subsequently received comments on PUC inquiries raised at the technical conference from more than 30 stakeholders. In addition, the PUC recently established a proceeding to explore issues related to the design of a large-load model tariff and rate structures to serve large-load customers like data centers. The PUC received testimony at an en banc hearing on April 25, 2025 from interested stakeholders, and there is an opportunity to submit comments on May 27, 2025 and reply to comments on June 11, 2025. A statewide siting board as contemplated in HB 502 would accelerate energy infrastructure development in the commonwealth and support the PUC’s efforts to address resource adequacy concerns.