NOTE: This column, “Pa. is losing out in the national renewable energy race,” was originally published in the Delaware County Daily Times on November 9, 2023.
With the sun slipping over the horizon a little earlier every afternoon, and the heating season upon us, energy use is about to become front of mind in many Pennsylvania households.
The way we produce and consume energy has far-reaching impacts on our pocketbooks, our health, and our environment. At the same time, states across the nation are in the midst of a dramatic shift toward using clean and renewable energy sources to power our lives.
But right now, Pennsylvania is failing to make the most of these clean energy opportunities.
A decade ago, renewables accounted for a small fraction of our nation’s energy infrastructure.
The good news is the tide has quickly turned: today, renewable energy sources provide 17% of our nation’s electricity, enough to power more than 60 million American homes. That’s according to Renewables on the Rise, a new report released this month from the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center.
Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is significantly lagging behind the national pace of renewable energy growth.
We rank a lowly 50th in the nation for percent growth in total solar, wind, and geothermal generation since 2013. The state also ranks 50th in change in energy savings as well. The Commonwealth’s energy efficiency programs have faltered to the point where they are only saving a third of the energy they did a decade ago in 2013.
At our current rate, Pennsylvania will continue to fall far behind a nation that’s becoming more and more powered by clean energy every day. This means that we will miss out on critical opportunities to reduce the state’s climate and air pollution, as well as promising economic and job opportunities in the clean energy sector.
It’s time for Pennsylvania to move from being a clean energy laggard to being a clean energy leader.
After all, we have no shortage of renewable energy opportunities.
According to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory compiled by the Environment America Research & Policy Center, Pennsylvania has enough solar potential today to meet the state’s electric demand in 2020 by almost fivefold.
Additionally, federal dollars are poised to help by offering incentives.
For example, the Inflation Reduction Act allows taxpayers to deduct 30 percent of the cost of renewable energy systems from their federal taxes through 2032. Individuals, businesses, local governments, school districts, and many nonprofits can qualify for these tax credits.
The Inflation Reduction Act also directs money to states to establish rebate programs for energy-efficient technologies like heat pumps, that can run on renewable energy.
While federal incentives are already boosting the adoption of clean energy technologies, ultimately repowering America with renewable energy is a 50-state project, and Pennsylvania isn’t pulling its weight.
Currently, 11 states have committed to, and are growing towards, achieving 100% clean energy goals statewide.
The science is clear: to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we need to fully embrace renewable energy and get to net-zero by 2050 at the latest.
But in the last 10 years, Pennsylvania only brought online enough renewables to power less than 2% of the state’s homes. And only 3% of the electricity purchased in Pennsylvania comes from renewable sources.
A number of proposals have been introduced — yet have stalled — in the state legislature that could help Pennsylvanians tap into more renewable energy production and improve energy efficiency and conservation programs in the state.
This includes legislation aimed at increasing requirements for renewable energy production, putting solar panels on schools, utilizing wind energy, improving energy efficiency for commonly used appliances, and committing to a clean energy future for Pennsylvania.
Renewables are on the rise nationwide — on the coasts and in the heartland, in red states and blue — because they make sense. Compared to fossil fuel-generated power, renewables are better for our health, better for our environment, and in the long run (sometimes even the short-term too), better for our bank accounts.
It is time for Pennsylvania to make use of all of these opportunities at hand, and change our story: Make Pennsylvania not just an energy state, but a renewable energy state for generations to come.
By state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester County, and Ellie Kerns, PennEnvironment