PA Solar Center: Learn How To Advocate For REAL Energy Independence For PA At May 16 In-Person Workshop In Westmoreland County

On May 4, the PA Solar Center and Solar United Neighbors announced they have joined together to create a new campaign-- Energy Independence for Pennsylvania (EI4PA)-- and that they are looking for solar enthusiasts across the state to join them as volunteer “Energy Leaders.”

In an effort to keep energy costs down and to help Pennsylvanians find true energy independence, EI4PA will train about 100 volunteers across Pennsylvania over the next six months to become Energy Leaders. 

Energy Leaders will promote the cost-saving benefits of renewable energy to their communities, from making presentations at town hall meetings and community events to offering their expertise on social media.

“Most Pennsylvanians can agree that their energy bills are way too high right now,” said Sharon Pillar, Founder & Executive Director of the PA Solar Center. “High energy prices are largely due to soaring energy demand, paired with stagnant energy supply. This means Pennsylvania must increase our energy supply to keep costs down – and the cheapest and fastest type of energy to deploy is renewable energy, namely solar, wind, and energy efficiency.”

“However, most Pennsylvanians are not aware of the broad benefits and big cost savings of renewable energy to all electric customers, not just solar owners,” said Monica Carey, Pennsylvania State Director of Solar United Neighbors. “That's where Energy Independence for PA and our Energy Leaders come in. We hope to cut through the misinformation and get the facts out there.”

May 16 Volunteer Training

Energy Leaders will be asked to commit approximately 20 hours total to the campaign over a six-month period, including a six-hour in-person training session on Saturday, May 16, in Westmoreland County, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

At the training, EI4PA will equip them with resources to make their roles as easy as possible, including community tabling kits and videos. 

EI4PA will also provide ongoing outreach and support during the six-month period.

Click Here to register for the training and for more information.

Visit the Energy Independence for Pennsylvania webpage for more on the program.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit effort to raise the awareness of the benefits of solar energy in Pennsylvania. Click Here to sign up for regular updates.

Resource Links:

-- Guest Essay: Solar Power Can Propel Pennsylvania Towards Meeting Energy Demands - By Sharon Pillar, PA Solar Center  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay:  Energy Independence Is A National Security Issue - Renewables Are A Better Choice For The Environment, For The Economy And The National Security Of Our Nation -  By Lt. General Richard Zilmer, USMC (Ret.), PA Native   [PaEN] 

-- Guest Essay: Renewables Can Help Stop Winter, Summer Power Outages, Avoid Energy Price Spikes - By Matt Walker, Clean Air Council and Julia Kortrey, Evergreen Action   [PaEN] 

-- True Energy Independence Means More Renewables, Not Letting Foreign Markets Or Despots Dictate What We Pay For Energy  [PaEN] 

Related Article This Week:

-- PA House Passes Bipartisan Legislation To Establish Framework For Developing Clean, Safe Geothermal Energy To Meet Base Load Energy Demands  [PaEN]   

-- Environmental Advocates Urge Lawmakers To Pass Bills Giving PUC Authority To Regulate Data Centers, Prohibit Nondisclosure Agreements, Promote Clean Energy To Reduce Energy Costs  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center: Learn How To Advocate For REAL Energy Independence For PA At May 16 In-Person Workshop In Westmoreland County [PaEN]  

[Posted: May 4, 2026]  PA Environment Digest