Today, 25 environmental groups wrote to state representatives condemning HB502, one of six bills rolled out in the House as part of Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan. Hearings on the bill, which seeks to fast-track fossil fuel projects by overriding local government control and public input, begin today and continue Wednesday.

The letter, organized by Food & Water Watch, reads in part: “Governor Shapiro campaigned on environmental protection, public health, and responsive governance. Instead, HB 502—tied directly to his ‘Lightning Plan’—serves fossil fuel interests while removing the very tools communities use to protect themselves. At a time when local governments are developing bold climate solutions, this bill cuts them off at the knees… We call on every member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reject this legislation and stand with the people of this Commonwealth—not with corporate polluters.”

If passed, HB502 would endanger over 530,000 Pennsylvania residents in at least 35 communities that environmental groups have helped protect through protective fossil fuel ordinances. Groups sounded alarm that the impacts could be magnified when coupled with passage of additional Lightning Plan associated bills moving through the legislature including SB102, which seeks to strip impacted communities of much-needed impact fees.

Food & Water Watch Pennsylvania State Director Megan McDonough, the organizer of the letter said:

“While Pennsylvanians demand real protections from dangerous fossil fuel projects, Harrisburg is taking us backwards. HB502 and SB102 are toxic power grabs designed not to protect people, but to punish communities that dare to defend themselves. These bills trample local control, silence municipal voices, and greenlight industry at the expense of public health.”

“Governor Shapiro’s ‘Lightning Plan’ isn’t the bold climate leadership he claims — it’s bureaucratic overreach disguised as progress. This isn’t just legislative failure; it’s a betrayal. The legislature must reject HB502 out of hand.”

HB502 seeks to quickly bring energy generating facilities online by bypassing municipal zoning and ordinance powers and establishing a state appointed RESET Board. Projects that receive the Board’s approval would proceed on an expedited timeline without municipal input, in-district public comment opportunities and independent environmental review. Similar efforts in the past including the SPEED program have resulted in majority fossil fuel project approvals.

Scott Taylor, President of Protect Elizabeth Township, said: “We spent over a decade fighting — and defeating — not one, but two fracked gas power plant proposals using the land use and zoning tools that HB502 would strip away. This bill doesn’t just threaten our community’s health and safety; it threatens to erase years of grassroots organizing and hand our future over to polluters. It’s a direct attack on local democracy and everything we’ve fought for.” 

“Sadly, members of the Pennsylvania legislature seem intent on stripping away local government’s land-use control – an issue that was litigated and decided years ago,” said Lisa Graves Marcucci, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Environmental Integrity Project, referring to the landmark Robinson Township v. Commonwealth case. “Why are members of the legislature and the Governor focused on taking away local rights that have already been upheld by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court instead of protecting the health and wellbeing of our communities from fossil fuel projects?”