Pennsylvania's House of Representative has passed a bill which would allow for the lease of land on Lake Erie to harness clean energy.

House Bill 254 passed along party lines and now heads to the state Senate for consideration.

The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Bob Merski.

“When everyone is brought to the table, we can bridge the gap between good-paying jobs and renewable energy,” said Merski in a statement. “This bill brought stakeholders from labor, environmental groups, the Fish and Boat Commission, Department of Community and Economic Development and Department of Environmental Protection together to make sure we continue protecting our environment in our efforts to bring jobs to Pennsylvania and help make America energy independent.

 “By investing in clean energy, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also catalyzing innovation, creating jobs and ensuring energy security for generations to come," said Merski. "Additionally, this would be a safeguard for Erie County, protecting our natural resources while ensuring profits from this endeavor are brought back home to benefit us locally.”