PECO serves nearly 1.7 million customers in Pennsylvania, and approximately 75% of those customers receive default service which would benefit from the renewable energy purchases.
Energy Justice Advocates includes POWER Interfaith, Sierra Club, Vote Solar, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, Clean Air Council, and PennEnvironment.
The groups provided testimony at Public Utility Commission hearings on PECO's default power procurement plan urging a more aggressive transition to renewable energy for default customers.
The hearings were attended by 175 people, 80 of whom gave testimony sharing their vision and their values for a transition to renewable energy.
They spoke about how solar energy can lower electric bills and contribute to housing stability, can decrease the rates of asthma, heart attacks and strokes, and how it will contribute to a healthy environment for the generations that come after us, according to the groups.
The Energy Justice Advocates will have the opportunity, for the first time, to provide comments on the power purchase agreement that PECO will use for the solicitation.
The settlement agreement also includes important protections to expand access to low-income protection programs.
Click Here for the complete announcement.
Statements
“POWER and its members and supporters came together throughout this past year to rally around an alternative vision for Philadelphia’s energy future—a People’s Energy Plan created by and for people and the planet rather than corporate profit. While the outcome of this case still leaves us far from our goal of 100% clean for Pennsylvania, we know that this is going to be a transition process, and the 25 MW solar project and opportunity to comment on the PPA will be a crucial first step for putting that process into motion here," said Nancy Wygant, People’s Energy Plan Co-convener, POWER Interfaith.
“We have long been well aware of the devastating consequences of burning fossil fuels for Pennsylvania’s ecosystems and our health. However, the work of our experts in this case and the testimony we submitted made very clear the extent to which PECO’s failure to diversify their supply contracts by purchasing clean energy has also cost consumers millions of dollars. This solar PPA is a first step in transitioning to clean, affordable energy for all," said Kartik Amarnath, Mid-Atlantic Regulatory Director for Vote Solar.
“Low-income communities have historically, and continue to, bear the brunt of harm from fossil fuels. They are more likely to live near gas and coal plants and suffer the resulting health impacts, as well as live in older, non-weatherized homes and pay the resulting high utility bills. Crucially, this settlement involves an increase in solar but also demonstrated reduction in costs over time for customers, as well as an expansion of the Customer Assistance Program for those overburdened by high utility bills in Pennsylvania—since a truly just clean energy transition must also be affordable for those who have been most harmed by our fossil fuel system," said Linnea Bond, Health and Environmental Education Director, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania.
“This settlement represents not the end, but the beginning of the changes needed to green our grid in Pennsylvania. Mature grid technologies such as utility-scale renewables and energy storage can satisfy all our electrical demands without the need for the polluting mix of antiquated sources that PECO has historically relied on," said Alex Bomstein, Executive Director, Clean Air Council.
"The life-threatening hurricanes that pummeled Florida and other southern states last month should make it clear that the companies that produce and supply our energy must do their part to prioritize and provide clean, renewable energy to their customers. We know that Pennsylvanians want that, and our planet needs it. With the settlement announced today, PECO will purchase and supply more clean, renewable solar power in Pennsylvania. This is a critical step in the right direction," Flora Cardoni, Deputy Director, PennEnvironment.
Click Here for the complete announcement.
Resource Link:
-- Community, Climate Advocates Petition To Intervene In PECO Rate Case Saying It Falls Short In Providing Renewable Energy And Addressing Environmental Justice Needs Of Residents [PaEN]
[Posted: November 11, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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