Bipartisan bills introduced in the General Assembly on Wednesday would require 30 percent of Pennsylvania's energy to come from renewal sources, including 10 percent from solar power.

Pennsylvania used to be a leader in bringing renewable energy to the state's power grid, but lawmakers said Wednesday the commonwealth is "lagging behind" its neighbors now.

A bipartisan effort to increase renewable energy use in Pennsylvania to 30 percent by 2030 introduced this week won't set any new precedents for clean energy, but members in both chambers of the state legislature said it will help keep pace.

Senate Bill 600 would expand the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004 and push for solar power to make up 10 percent of all renewable energy used in the state over the next decade.

Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-10, of Lower Makefield, said the bill would mean "thousands of good paying, 21st century jobs" in Pennsylvania and was a needed step toward offsetting the effects of global climate change.

“These standards don’t just measure progress when it comes to clean energy, family sustaining jobs, and environmental stewardship," Santarsiero said.

"They tell our children and grandchildren that we care about their future,” he added.

The current energy portfolio act requires at least 8 percent of power sold to retail customers must come from renewable energies by 2021, with solar making up about 0.5 percent of that clean energy share, according to information included in Santarsiero's bill memo.

New Jersey is pushing to get half of its power from renewable energy by 2030, and Maryland is aiming for 25 percent solar by 2025.

State Sen. Thomas Killion, R-9, representing parts of Chester and Delaware counties, said Wednesday the bill was "critical to Pennsylvania's future."

"Substantially boosting renewable energy is absolutely the best way to provide cleaner air for our families while growing our state's economy," Killion added.

As of 2017, the 4,670 solar jobs in Pennsylvania fell far behind Maryland, with 13,053 jobs, and New Jersey, with 9,239 jobs, according to estimates from the bill memo.

Another bill sponsor, state Sen. Art Haywood, D-4, said industry representatives have estimated the renewable push could create 75,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, bringing about $3.2 billion in wages with them.

A separate House Bill was also introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the bicameral Climate Caucus.

Both bills would also require the state's Public Utility Commission to study benefits of a renewable energy storage program and provide "several protections" to control costs for electricity customers — including long-term contracting and warranties on solar equipment.