Climate change, driven by fossil fuel pollution, is the single greatest threat to birds today. Habitat loss, extreme weather events, and rising temperatures are putting countless species at risk. Moving toward a renewable energy future is imperative - not just for our communities, but for the birds and other species that call Pennsylvania home.  

And make no mistake, Pennsylvania is at a crossroads when it comes to addressing renewable energy. New technologies like AI and data warehouses require significant electric power; this demand is already driving up energy costs for our residents and business owners. Without new sources of supply, we will risk even more rate increases and grid interruptions in the future. Other states—including Texas and Oklahoma—understand this and have been bringing solar and wind projects on-line over the past decade. Today, Texans receive 30% of their electricity and Oklahoma gets 54% from renewables. Pennsylvania stands at 4%.   

Thankfully, the 2025 legislative season has presented many important opportunities for Pennsylvania to get back on track. Audubon Mid-Atlantic supports a number of bills that support renewable energy and take bold action to protect birds and the ecosystems they rely on.  

One of the bills Audubon is supporting is HB501, the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standards (PRESS) Act. This proposal calls for 35% of the state’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2035 - including solar, wind, and geothermal - up from the current 5% goal. 

As of July 2025, HB501 has been voted positively out of committee and remains under consideration in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Read the new op-ed on this bill here.  

Audubon also supports the following bills: 

• HB 502, the Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition Board (RESET) bill establishes a body made up of conservation and energy stakeholders that will enable renewable energy siting decisions to be expedited in a way that allows the state to deploy appropriately sited renewable energy in a timely manner. Audubon supports this discussion because we know that all too often misinformation delays investments in much needed renewable energy development. 

•  HB503, the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act, which establishes a Pennsylvania-specific cap-and-invest program. This legislation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while reinvesting the revenue collected from polluters into clean energy technologies and protections for ratepayers. By holding polluters accountable, HB503 would help build a cleaner and fairer energy future. Like HB501, this bill is still with the House of Representatives as of July 2025. 

• HB504, the Community Energy Act, which passed the House in May 2025 and now awaits action in the Senate. This bill would empower more Pennsylvanians to access renewable energy by authorizing community solar programs. These programs allow residents - especially those who can’t install solar panels on their own homes - to subscribe to shared solar energy projects and benefit from clean, affordable electricity. 

Audubon supports Community Solar because it makes renewable energy more accessible to everyone, and it encourages solar development in the state. A similar bill passed the Pennsylvania House last year, but didn’t make it through the Senate. This year, Audubon is hopeful that the bill will make it to the governor's desk. HB504 is now with the Pennsylvania Senate.  

These Audubon Energy priorities make up parts of Governor Josh Shapiro’s energy and climate policy plan commonly called the “Lightning Plan”. The Lightning Plan also includes the following proposals to accelerate Pennsylvania’s clean energy transition:  

• Tax credits for new clean energy projects 

• Programs to help communities lower utility bills 

• Expanded rebates for energy-efficient appliances 

These measures aim to make clean energy more affordable and accessible, while also reducing polluting emissions across the state. 

An additional energy-related bill that Audubon is supporting is H.B.1260: which will require new large buildings such as warehouses and distribution centers to be built in a way that can accommodate rooftop solar arrays. Incentivizing construction and design process to be solar-ready will increase the development of solar facilities across the state, especially on already developed land. 

Audubon Mid-Atlantic will continue advocating for policies that protect birds, lower energy costs, and build a cleaner, healthier Pennsylvania. By supporting this clean energy legislation, we hope to build a sustainable future in Pennsylvania that protects both people and wildlife. 

To learn more about Audubon’s priority legislation, please visit the legislative tracker on our website.