Pennsylvania families are facing a growing electricity affordability crisis — and President Trump’s latest energy legislation is making it worse.

The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law July 4, slashes federal incentives for wind and solar power that have been driving down utility costs, all while pouring billions into tax breaks for expensive fossil-fuel projects. The result will be higher energy bills for households across the commonwealth, with U.S. families paying $170 more for energy each year by 2035 and $353 more by 2040.

The legislation delivers a devastating one-two punch to affordability. Not only does it eliminate support for the clean energy sources that save consumers money, but it also eliminates incentives for energy-efficient home technologies that help families reduce their monthly bills.

Low-income households in Pennsylvania will bear the brunt of these changes, facing higher costs just as federal support is being stripped away.

This makes state and local action more critical than ever. As the federal government abandons working families, Pennsylvania’s leaders must step up to protect their communities from rising energy costs.

Fortunately, Allegheny County is rising to the challenge. Local leaders like County Executive Sarah Innamorato are working to bring energy-efficient and clean energy technologies directly to public housing residents — the very people hit hardest by the Trump administration’s assault on affordability. In the 2024 county budget, Innamorato championed the allocation of $1 million for clean energy upgrades in public housing, with initial focus on Allegheny County Housing Authority’s (ACHA) Blawnox Apartments, home to over 80 senior citizens. This project is just the beginning — expanding clean energy improvements across the county’s entire public housing portfolio has the potential to create more than 850 good-paying local jobs, delivering both economic and environmental benefits to communities that need them most.

State leaders must match the county’s commitment with an additional $1 million allocation for energy efficiency upgrades in the state budget. This combined $2 million investment would not only ease the financial burden on Allegheny County from rising energy costs but also create quality jobs while improving health and safety conditions for some of our most vulnerable neighbors.

Now the county must move with urgency to get these dollars deployed. Time is of the essence for several critical reasons.

First, Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill includes a rapidly closing window before tax credits are eliminated that could help county dollars go further. The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act — which the Big Beautiful Bill seeks to undo — includes a 30% tax credit for solar installations and battery storage systems, with additional bonuses available for projects in low-income communities, potentially offsetting up to 50% of the cost.

The Big Beautiful Bill imposes steep restrictions on clean energy incentives after 2025 — making it nearly impossible for most projects to qualify — before fully eliminating them in 2027. However, projects that begin construction within one year of the bill’s signing can still access the full credits if completed by 2027.

Second, Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will increase electricity prices by reducing incentives for affordable clean energy, making energy efficiency and solar upgrades even more vital. The county can shield itself from these increases by investing in solar panels, battery storage and energy efficiency measures that bring down bills.

For example, in Blawnox Houses, by converting all lighting to efficient LEDs, the county would save nearly $12,000 per year and pay back the cost of the upgrade in less than one year. A rooftop solar system would generate more than $10,000 annually in energy savings.

Lastly, the Big Beautiful Bill threatens Pennsylvania’s clean energy workforce. Industry experts warn the legislation could eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide, with over 145,000 clean energy workers facing potential impacts. By moving quickly on energy upgrades,

Allegheny County can support quality, union jobs for local residents — including more than 850 potential positions — while shielding the community from both rising energy costs and job losses in a sector that has been driving Pennsylvania’s economic growth.

The choice before us is clear. Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” represents a massive transfer of wealth from working families to fossil-fuel corporations, driving up energy costs for those who can least afford it while eliminating good-paying jobs across Pennsylvania.

But Allegheny County has the power to chart a different course. By acting swiftly to deploy the allocated $1 million and securing matching state funds, our state leaders can join Innamorato in being a labor, housing and climate champion to demonstrate that when Washington fails working families, local governments step up. These investments will create immediate jobs, reduce long-term energy costs, and improve living conditions for our most vulnerable residents. The window is rapidly closing, but if we act now, we can protect Allegheny County families from rising energy costs while building a more resilient, equitable energy future for our community.

Gregory Bernarding is executive business manager of Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades. Jeaneen A. Zappa is executive director of Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance.

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