The PA Climate Change Act of 2008 requires DEP to prepare a greenhouse gas inventory, develop a voluntary greenhouse gas registry, periodically release updates to the state’s Climate Change Action Plan with recommendations for strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare an updated assessment of how climate change will impact Pennsylvania.
Visit DEP’s Climate Change webpage for more information on these and other Pennsylvania climate initiatives.
Climate Change Action Plan Update
This sixth Climate Change Action Plan Update commits the Commonwealth to purse three key greenhouse gas reduction targets--
-- Collectively reducing net GHG emissions at least 26-28% by 2025 compared to 2005 levels;
-- Collectively reducing net GHG emissions at least 50-52% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels; and
-- Collectively achieving overall net zero GHG emissions as soon as practicable, and no later than 2050.
“The impacts of a changing climate are being felt both locally and globally. In Pennsylvania, residents are increasingly threatened by flooding, drought, and severe storms, while rising temperatures and extreme heat put public health at risk.
“These climate impacts are not felt equitably, and EJ areas throughout Pennsylvania are more at risk due to legacy pollution and systemic barriers such as redlining, and structural racism.”
“In the face of growing climate risk, national and local policies are changing to address these impacts and provide increased opportunities for transformative climate action.
“The [federal Bipartisan Infrastructure and Inflation Reduction Acts] provide billions of dollars in investment aimed at expanding low-and no-carbon technologies, accelerating a just energy transition, and building equity into climate adaptation efforts.”
As of 2020, the three largest sources of emissions in Pennsylvania are:
-- Electricity Generation (29% of gross emissions)
-- Transportation Fuel Consumption (22% of gross emissions)
-- Industrial Emissions (19% of gross emissions)
Emissions from electricity generation decreased 10.4% from 2019 to 2020 and 44.4% from 2005 to 2020.
This is mainly a result of coal generation being replaced by natural gas generation (and to a smaller extent renewable energy sources like wind and solar) and energy efficiency improvements, due in part to Act 129 [utility energy efficiency program].
Emissions have declined across most sectors, except for fugitive emissions from energy production (natural gas and oil systems), industrial emissions (both fuel consumption and process emissions), and agriculture emissions (resulting from agricultural soil management, liming, and urea fertilization).
Reduction Strategies
“Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation offer the greatest potential for decarbonization through 2050, followed by emissions from industrial sources, transportation, and buildings.
“Decarbonization of the electricity grid is foundational to the success of Pennsylvania meeting its climate mitigation goals since electricity already touches all major sectors.
“By shifting toward renewable energy and battery storage, nuclear, carbon capture technologies, and the use of low-carbon fuels, reductions from electricity generation have the potential to touch many sectors.”
Key legislative recommendations in the Plan Update include--
-- PA Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS): Requires Pennsylvania to get 50% of its electricity from a diverse range of energy resources by 2035, including 35% from current and future clean energy sources, like solar, wind, small modular reactors, and fusion, 10% from sustainable sources like large hydropower and battery storage, and 5% from low emission forms of natural gas and other alternative fuels. PRESS aims to continue all the successful elements of AEPS but is also more inclusive to ensure diversity and reliability. Read more here.
-- PA Climate emissions Reduction Act (PACER): Is a cap-and-invest program that allows Pennsylvania to develop and implement an annual declining cap on the electric generation sector’s CO2 emissions. In addition to reducing climate emissions, the benefits of the PACER program will flow directly to Pennsylvanians. 70% of the program proceeds will go toward electric bill rebates for ratepayers. Read more here.
-- Building Energy Code Reform: Adopt the latest building energy codes in Pennsylvania in a timelier manner, allow municipalities to opt into a more resilient code and ensure the RAC has the best economic information to make decisions during the code review process.
-- Enabling Community Solar: Community solar programs can help these utility customers access solar by allowing households and businesses within a geographic area to subscribe to and share electricity from a solar project.
-- Zero Emissions Vehicle Targets: Proposes setting targets for ZEV adoption throughout the Commonwealth and supporting vehicle markets as they move to decarbonize.
-- Low-Carbon Fuel Standard: Much like renewable portfolio standards for the electricity sector, low-carbon fuel standards incentivize the least-cost achievement of the targeted carbon intensity baseline while allowing the market to pick the most appropriate decarbonization technology for a given use case.
-- Hydrogen Legislative Package: Would seek to review a full set of existing regulations and update or clarify them to provide better transparency and understanding to those seeking to deploy this technology in the Commonwealth. Read more here.
Click Here for a copy of the 2024 Climate Action Plan Update.
Climate Impacts Assessment Report
The 2024 Climate Impacts Assessment Report reviews current scientific findings and climate projections to identify relative risks which can be used to inform priority adaptation needs in the Climate Action Plan.
Climate change is already affecting Pennsylvania. From intense storms and floods to air quality emergencies, climate change is influencing weather events and is posing serious economic, health, and equity impacts across the Commonwealth.
By mid-century, key expected changes compared to a historical 1971-2000 baseline of climate conditions include--
-- 6.7 Degree Increase: The average annual temperature statewide is rising, and is expected to increase by 6.7°F (3.7°C).
-- There will be more frequent and intense extreme heat events. For example, temperatures are expected to reach at least 90°F on 36 days per year, up from the five (5) days during the historical baseline period (see Figure 1). The number of days reaching temperatures above 95°F and 100°F will become more frequent as well.
-- Pennsylvania is expected to receive more total average rainfall, occurring in less frequent but heavier rain events. Extreme rainfall events are projected to increase in magnitude, frequency, and intensity and drought conditions are also expected to occur more often. Flooding is currently the highest-risk hazard facing Pennsylvania, and flood risks are projected to increase.
-- Increasing temperatures will continue to alter the growing season and increase the number of days that people need to cool their homes and workspaces, but will also decrease the number of days that people will need to use heating. Risks from increasing average temperatures and heat waves could rise to be as high as flooding is today by mid-century.
-- Tidally-influenced flooding is expected to increase in the Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone due to sea level rise and storm surge from more intense storm events.
-- Lake Erie is also expected to undergo significant changes in water level, coastal erosion, and water temperature.
-- Increasing average temperatures and extreme heat events could affect nearly every aspect of life in the Commonwealth, from infrastructure design to energy costs, recreational opportunities, agricultural practices, and the natural environment.
“Climate risks and related impacts in Pennsylvania could be severe, potentially causing increased infrastructure disruptions, higher risks to public health, economic impacts, and other changes, unless actions are taken by the Commonwealth to avoid and reduce the consequences of climate change.”
“Climate change does not affect all Pennsylvanians equally, and this was a focus throughout this risk assessment.
“Some communities may be more vulnerable to impacts because of their location, and some populations may be more at risk because of housing, health, socioeconomic, or other factors.”
“Consequences of historical discriminatory practices in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) communities (e.g., redlining, disinvestment) remain manifest today, with BIPOC communities disproportionately living in housing that is particularly susceptible to climate hazards.”
“As Pennsylvania works to respond to climate change, it has an opportunity to take advantage of adaptations to adapt and build new industries and workforces.
“These opportunities may take the form of shifts in agricultural practices, built environment projects that revitalize communities, or building renewable energy infrastructure to power a green transition.
“Pennsylvania can use this as a chance to reinvest in communities that are the most vulnerable to climate change and that have been previously overlooked in development.
“Such an investment would mirror nationwide efforts under the [federal] Justice40 initiative to ensure that 40 percent of federal investments responding to climate change are dedicated to such communities.
“Pennsylvania must also consider risks for infrastructure and other planning processes that require assumptions about conditions in the late 21st century and beyond.”
Click Here for the 2024 limate Impacts Assessment Report.
Visit DEP’s Climate Change webpage for more information on these and other Pennsylvania climate initiatives.
Click Here for DEP’s announcement.
Related Articles This Week:
-- House, Senate Members Introduce Gov. Shapiro's 'Lightning' Energy Plan To Lower Energy Costs, Create Jobs, Protect Pennsylvania From Global Energy Instability [PaEN]
-- PUC Hearing On Data Center Growth Impacts Finds 30-40% Of Utility Demand Could Be From Data Centers; Concerns About Stranded Costs; Major Commitments To Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Energy Use [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro: FERC Approves Settlement With PJM To Prevent Unnecessary Prices Hikes, Save Consumers Over $21 Billion On Electric Bills [PaEN]
-- New Report: Fixing PJM’s Broken Electric Generation Approval Process Can Lower Energy Costs, Create Jobs Across The Mid-Atlantic [PaEN]
-- North American Electric Reliability Corp. Files Proposed Cold Weather Standard To Improve Reliability For Natural Gas-fired, Other Electric Generators [PaEN]
-- Eleven Coal, Coal-Waste Power Plants In Pennsylvania Now Covered By Presidential Exemption From 2024 Mercury, Hazardous Air Pollutant Regulation For 2 Years [PaEN]
-- DEP Partners With PennTAP And Catalyst Connection On RISE PA Industrial Decarbonization Grant Program To Reduce Energy Costs, Create Jobs Across PA [PaEN]
-- Conventional Oil & Gas Facility Owners Must Now File A Methane Emissions Compliance Report By June 1, 2025 Required By A 2022 DEP Methane Pollution Reduction Rule As A Result Of Court Settlement [PaEN]
-- PUC Announces May 6, 7 Hearings On Proposed 15.7% Rate Increase For Philadelphia Gas Works [PaEN]
-- PUC To Investigate Proposed 11.4% Increase In Columbia Gas Natural Gas Rate [PaEN]
-- PUC Commissioners Urge Congressional Action To Preserve $19 Million In Remaining LIHEAP Funds For PA This Year [PaEN]
-- PUC Issues Management, Operations Audit For Peoples Natural Gas And Aqua PA Water Company
-- PUC Enhances Cyber Rulemaking To Meet Next-Generation Utility Security Challenges
NewsClips:
-- Energy Association Of PA [Utilities] Calls For Protection Of LIHEAP Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
-- Utility Dive: FERC Approves PJM Interconnection Electricity Capacity Auction Price Cap, Floor [Negotiated with Gov. Shapiro]
-- PA Capital-Star: FERC Approves Shapiro’s PJM Settlement To Halt ‘Runaway’ Electricity Prices
-- Utility Dive: Ratepayer Advocates: FERC Should Order PJM To Rerun Last Electricity Capacity Auction; Could Lead To $5 Billion In Consumer Savings
-- Reuters: FERC Denies Rehearing On Colocated Amazon Data Center Energy Pact In Luzrne County
-- DelawareValleyJournal.com: Grid Operator PJM Rejects Accusations It’s Slow-Rolling Renewable Energy Generation
-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: US Is Facing Unprecedented Electricity Load Growth, Here’s How We Ensure Resource Adequacy - By Samuel Newell, The Brattle Group
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Bring Nuclear Power Jobs Back To PA and Power America’s Future - By Rep. Tom Mehaffie [Microsoft - Three Mile Island Deal]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Surging Interest In Building Data Centers In PA-- 6 Announced So Far [PDF of Article]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Plan For VA Data Center With 3,500 MW Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant Canceled Due To Local Opposition [PDF of Article]
-- Utility Dive: EPA Grants Exemptions To Mercury, Air Toxics Rule To More Than A Third Of US Coal-fired Power Plants
-- E&ENews/Politico: President’s Push For More LNG Gas Exports Risks Domestic Price Surge
-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Shapiro’s Energy Policies Will Cause Us To Pay More - By Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) [PJM Policies-Data Center Growth Taking Power Away From Public-Natural Gas Prices Are Real Problem - Get The Real Story Here ]
[Posted: April 25, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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