In 2017, the PA Environmental Council convened a dialogue on opportunities and challenges inherent in decarbonization of our state’s electric generation sector. That event spurred a number of issue-focused examinations of different policies and technologies including carbon pricing, grid modernization, carbon capture, and more.
The growth and utilization of renewable generation has been a priority for not just those interested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also for a wide range of individuals and interests: from the farmer looking to save costs and maybe even site renewable generation on their property, to companies and utilities looking to improve energy resiliency and diversity.
Pennsylvania’s variation of a statewide renewable portfolio standard, ambitious when enacted but now surpassed in comparison to other states, ceilings in 2021.
At the same time, companies, utilities, universities, cities, and others are setting their own clean energy goals and commitments.
For Pennsylvania to continue its path toward a net zero future and economy, the growth of renewable generation will be essential.
With this in mind, PEC believed it useful to have a more detailed understanding of how renewable generation has grown in western Pennsylvania, and to gather input from key stakeholders on barriers to that growth.
A new Renewable Energy in Southwestern Pennsylvania presents the findings of that effort, led by Green Light Consulting.
Findings
Renewable Energy in Southwestern Pennsylvania is the first part of a broader research effort that aims to better understand the potential for increased renewable energy generation in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
More specifically, the overall work will seek to address: (1) where Southwestern Pennsylvania currently is with respect to renewable energy generation (utility-scale and distributed); (2) how the region should prioritize supply-side decarbonization strategies for the electric power sector; (3) what the economic development potential is from scaling up renewable energy generation in the region; and (4) how progress can be sustained via customized strategies to meet regional goals.
This paper sets the scene, describing where Southwestern Pennsylvania currently is with respect to both utility-scale and distributed renewable energy generation.
Southwestern Pennsylvania is defined as Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
Key findings about the current status of renewables include the following:
-- Energy has been a major part of the regional economy for a long time, with the Marcellus shale the current key driver, though renewables are also growing in importance.
-- Renewables account for a very small amount of power in both the state as a whole (about 4.5 percent of electricity generated) and the southwestern region (under 1 percent).
-- Renewable energy generation. As of 2017, there were only two active wind farms in the 10-county Southwestern Pennsylvania area (both in Fayette County), though there are many in the windier areas in the Appalachian range in the neighboring counties to the east. There is one utility-scale solar project operating and another under development. There are nine large hydro plants operating. A few wind, solar, and hydro projects are planned.
• Solar in Pennsylvania is mostly distributed, and distributed solar has begun growing again (after peaking due to a state incentive program and then declining when the program ended). The vast majority of renewable generators in Southwestern Pennsylvania are distributed solar, though only Allegheny County is among the top counties in the state in terms of number of solar installations and solar generating capacity. Many of the surrounding counties have relatively few solar installations.
• Other generation. The region also has some small bioenergy, landfill methane, geothermal, and micro hydro generation, but there is not much current and/or public data on them.
Barriers
Barriers to utility-scale renewables deployment and demand in the region appear to be largely at the state level, including the weak state Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard and the near- exclusive focus on least-cost power procurement.
The primary barriers to distributed renewables deployment and demand in the region are a mix of state and regional, including limited net metering availability and confusing, overlapping, under-funded, poorly marketed, non-optimized clean energy financing programs.
There are several initiatives underway that could potentially help address some of these barriers in Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.
These include Pennsylvania’s recently released Climate Action Plan and Solar Future Plan, the City of Pittsburgh’s Climate Action Plan, efforts to power the growing numbers of electric vehicles, and initiatives by universities and governments to boost procurement of local renewables.
Updates on ongoing energy and climate work may be found on PEC’s Energy webpage.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, PEC Bill/Regulation Tracker, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook. Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts. Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.
(Photo: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, Allegheny County.)
(Reprinted from the PA Environmental Council website.)
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[Posted: August 7, 2020] PA Environment Digest
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