1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

This bill aims to establish an unelected board, the so-called Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition (RESET) Board, which would have sweeping powers to override local zoning laws and fast-track dirty energy projects across Pennsylvania. By allowing the energy industry to ignore municipal ordinances designed to protect community health and safety, HB502 strips away local control over land use decisions that directly impact residents' lives. The RESET Board would be heavily biased toward industry interests, with the authority to grant certificates exempting energy facilities from any local regulation that could impede their construction or operation. This undermines the ability of communities to meaningfully shape development within their borders according to their own planning processes and priorities. Centralized decision-making cannot adequately account for the unique contexts and needs of diverse localities across our state. Moreover, HB502 provides no meaningful opportunity for public input, requiring just one rushed public hearing with minimal notice in a narrow 45-day window. This shuts out the very people who stand to be most affected by the Board's decisions. I urge you to protect local zoning control and community voice by voting no on this misguided legislation. Our municipalities must retain their rightful authority to reasonably regulate industrial activities that jeopardize residents' wellbeing and quality of life.