PA Environment Digest Blog: June 2026

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Energy Efficiency Alliance Releases 15 New Case Studies Showing How Southwest PA Businesses, Organizations Are Saving On Energy Bills Thanks To Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency [No Fuel - No Price Spikes]

On June 30, the Energy Efficiency Alliance released 15 new Energy Efficiency Stories demonstrating how businesses and organizations in Southwest PA are saving thousands of dollars each year thanks to a combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.

“It’s a top-of-mind issue right now for businesses and nonprofits across this region,” said Jeaneen Zappa, Executive Director for the Energy Efficiency Alliance. “Summer heat waves mean high energy bills and an increasingly strained electric grid. These projects are helping to bring those costs down. That’s why we are spearheading the Energy Efficiency Stories project – to ensure these stories get told.”

In nearly all of these cases, the projects were made possible by soon-expiring (or dramatically shrinking) federal incentives, like the renewable energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant, as well as other federally funded programs like the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) and the Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) grant.

These southwestern PA entities include--

-- ACTION-Housing –Their single-room occupancy Centre Avenue YMCA property is offsetting rising energy costs with a rooftop solar array, allowing them to offer their residents much-improved (but energy-hungry) amenities like air conditioning. The ITC direct payment will cover $61,000 of the $125,000 solar project, and donations and grants make up most of the difference.

-- Allegheny County (Southside Fleet Garage) – An EECBG grant is helping the Southside Fleet Garage reduce its energy consumption by 20 percent through a comprehensive conversion to LED lighting, modernizing infrastructure while lowering operational costs for county vehicle maintenance.

-- Allegheny County (White Oak & Deer Lakes Parks) – New solar systems installed at White Oak and Deer Lakes parks have helped these facilities completely offset their annual energy usage, with an ITC direct payment covering $900,000 of the $2.8 million installation cost, ensuring the sun provides free energy for park operations moving forward.

-- Alpine Packaging - A RISE PA grant is enabling this Indiana, PA, based manufacturer to retrofit its 43,000-square-foot facility with LED lighting, projected to save roughly $10,000 annually while improving color accuracy for its printing operations, a strategic reinvestment as the third-generation family business prepares for its next chapter.

-- Berner Air Curtains - The PA Solar Center helped the manufacturer secure a REAP grant for $520,000, which covered about 40 percent of their $1.3 million solar installation. Berner's solar array produces nearly one gigawatt of power annually and powers their entire facility.

-- Delmont Public Library - Through a community-funded "200 Club" campaign and an R.K. Mellon Foundation matching grant, this facility powers its entire operations with a 40-kilowatt solar array and geothermal heating, eliminating monthly utility bills entirely while generating excess energy credits of $6,000–$8,000 over five years, proving how grassroots fundraising can deliver long-term resilience.

-- Ebara Elliot Energy - With support from a RISE PA grant, the Jeannette-based manufacturer is replacing traditional compressor performance-testing gases with sustainable low-emission alternatives at its Indiana County facility, projecting a 70% reduction in emissions by 2029 while strengthening Pennsylvania's industrial sector leadership in clean manufacturing technology.

-- Encentiv Energy - Based in Pittsburgh but serving a nationwide market, Encentiv Energy’s data platform UtilityGenius helps users identify eligible rebates to offset energy efficiency projects and technologies, making it easier for ratepayers to unlock maximum savings and benefits from the energy efficiency programs they pay into.

-- First United Presbyterian Church of Crafton Heights - The church once paid about $6,600 a year on electric bills, but it applied for the ITC and now pays less than $2,000 after installing its new rooftop solar system.

-- Municipal Opportunities for Retrofits and Energy Efficiency (MORE) Program - Southwestern PA municipalities like Arnold, Braddock, and Oakmont used the federally funded MORE program to identify energy savings opportunities in aging municipal buildings.

-- Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative - Various energy-efficiency and renewable energy initiatives helped Northwestern members pay about 12 percent less for energy in 2024 on average than the typical Pennsylvania electric utility consumer, with help from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding, REAP grants, and other federal incentives.

-- Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation - Leveraging an EPA Thriving Communities grant and Pennsylvania DCED tax credit program, this workforce development organization supports over 40 regional employers and trains entry-level and incumbent workers in certified building science principles and BPI credentialing, ensuring capacity exists to construct energy-efficient affordable housing across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

-- PWWG Architects - Designed Kopchick Hall at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a 146,720-square-foot consolidated science facility that achieved a projected 25–35% improvement in HVAC energy performance over conventional lab buildings through integrated design, leveraging the federal 179D tax deduction to deliver a tangible financial return to the design team.

-- Quaker Sales Corporation - Leveraging a RISE PA grant to overhaul its 1970s-era asphalt plant, this Johnstown family business is installing thermal storage silos and moisture control systems to achieve a projected 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while stabilizing operations ahead of its centennial in 2029.

-- Wesley Family Services - Completed a 104.5kW rooftop solar installation on its Pioneer building in New Kensington, reducing out-of-pocket costs to just $4,907 on a $209,080 project through a partnership grant from WPPSEF and tax credits from Collective Sun, enabling the behavioral health nonprofit to reinvest nearly $36,000 in energy savings back into its mission over three years.

In addition, EEA announced a further slew of stories to be released in July on EnergyEfficiencyStories.org further showcasing energy projects in Southwestern PA:

“Most, if not all, of these organizations used their tax incentives and grants to hire Pennsylvania contractors to complete their energy upgrades, keeping these investments circulating in Southwestern Pennsylvania’s local economy,” said Zappa.

“Now they’re spending less on energy—in some cases, a lot less—which lets them invest more in growing their businesses or pursuing their nonprofit missions. Reducing energy use also reduces pressure on our electric grid, which means they’re helping every ratepayer in our region fight high utility costs.”

“Many of the federal incentives that kick-started these projects are set to diminish or disappear because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Zappa continued, “But these stories show that policy supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy investments works.”

For more details on how these organizations are benefiting from energy efficiency and solar measures, check out all of EEA’s case studies here.

The Energy Efficiency Alliance (EEA) is a nonprofit that advances energy efficiency in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

EEA engages and educates stakeholders and decision-makers to drive programs, policies, and funding that accelerate energy efficiency.

Our work grows the market for EE businesses, flexible solutions, and technologies that lower energy use in buildings, foster affordability, and reduce pressure on the grid.

EEA works closely with an affiliated 501(c)(6) trade association serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey’s energy efficiency industry as the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA) and the Energy Efficiency Alliance of New Jersey (EEA-NJ).

(Photo: Wesley Family Services, New Kensington, Westmoreland County.)

PJM Interconnection Issues Maximum Generation, Load Management, Low Voltage Alerts For July 1; Received Emergency Order To Put Data Centers On Backup Generators; Forecasts Peak Power Above 2006 Record For July 2

On June 30, the PJM Interconnection issued a Maximum Generation Alert and Load Management Alert for July 1 across its footprint. These alerts do not require any action from customers.

A Maximum Generation Alert is targeted at transmission, generation owners, who then determine if any maintenance or testing on equipment can be deferred or canceled.

By deferring maintenance, the units stay online and continue to produce energy that is needed to serve electricity demand within the PJM region.

This alert is also used to notify neighboring systems that electricity exports from PJM may be curtailed, serving as a procedural step that allows those neighboring regions to plan accordingly.

PJM issues this alert at the same time as a Load Management Alert, which gives advance notification that load management action may be declared, including Pre-Emergency and Emergency Demand Response.

Demand Response programs pay customers in advance who sign up to allow reduction of their electricity use in emergencies.

Backup Generator Order

PJM requested and received approval of an emergency 202c order by the U.S. Department of Energy to direct transmission owners, if required as a last resort prior to voltage reduction or load shed, to curtail data centers and other large loads that have backup generation.

Relief From Environmental Limits

PJM has also submitted and received approval of a DOE 202c emergency order for temporary relief from environmental permit restrictions for generating units, effective July 1 through July 3.

Low Voltage Alert

PJM has also issued a Low Voltage Alert for July 1. The purpose of this procedure is to increase bulk electric system voltage to allow for additional transfer capability across critical transmission interfaces.

They do not require any actions from customers.

Forecasted Peaks

As of 1 p.m. on June 30, 2026, PJM is expecting to serve the following approximate peak loads through July 5--

July 1 - 162,102 MW

July 2 - 166,304 MW - Above 2006 record peak of 165,563 MW

July 3 - 155,780 MW

July 4 - 148,780 MW

July 5 - 142,602 MW

PJM’s forecast for July 2 could exceed PJM’s existing all-time summer hourly integrated peak of 165,563 MW, which was set in 2006.

These numbers are subject to change and will be updated periodically. PJM publishes load forecasts out to seven days on Data Miner.

Click Here for the PJM announcement.

The PJM Interconnection coordinates the wholesale electricity grid and markets for all or parts of 13 states—Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia—plus the District of Columbia.

Resource Links:

-- PJM Interconnection Holds Next Generation Capacity Auction June 30, Results To Be Announced July 14 [PaEN]

-- PJM Adds New Emergency Procedures To Deal With Strained Grid: A Capacity Advisory; Directive For Data Centers To Use Backup Generators [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Hot Weather Alert For June 29 In Western Region, June 30 to July 3 For Entire Service Area; 5th Alert This Season [PaEN]

-- DOE Issues Emergency Orders To PJM Ahead Of Period Of Hot Weather

NRDC: PJM Membership Votes On Recommendations To Help Prevent A.I. Data Centers From Overloading The Electric Grid; PJM Board Will Have Final Say

On June 30, the Natural Resources Defense Council reported the PJM Interconnection membership voted on two consequential proposals related to managing the explosion in electricity demand from data centers: the Reliably Backstop Procurement (RBP) and Connect and Manage (CAM).

The RBP governs contracting with new power plants while CAM dictates how PJM will handle situations where there is more demand for power than available supply.

On the RBP, members recommended a proposal made by multiple utilities that focused on voluntary purchases carried the day.

No CAM proposal won the required two-thirds support as PJM members preferred proposals that would cut off power to data centers when needed to protect other customers.

These votes act as recommendations to the PJM Board who are expected to vote in the coming weeks.

NRDC Statement

Tom Rutigliano, senior advocate, Climate & Energy at Natural Resources Defense Council issued this statement--

“PJM members supported a common sense approach to protect the public while contracting with new power plants.

“The approved proposal for the Reliability Backstop Procurement ensures that the public will not be stuck with the bill to build new power plants for data centers.

“It also directs PJM to focus on new supply located close to data centers, rather than building unnecessary transmission to move power from distant fossil fuel resources.

“This is good news for clean energy, and avoids an expensive boondoggle that benefits fossil fuel companies at public expense.

“It’s disappointing that PJM members were not able to agree on a Connect and Manage proposal, but there was widespread agreement that PJM needs to take an active role in preventing data centers from harming reliability for everyone else.

“Members soundly rejected proposals that would have had PJM do nothing as data centers overload the grid.

“The PJM Board must hear that message and decide on a proposal that both protects the public and respects states’ authority to manage data center growth.

“The Board should also focus on eliminating any unnecessary barriers to new technologies like distributed storage or upgrades to existing power plants.

“Most importantly, they must listen to state legislators and consumer advocates who believe that data centers should be removed from PJM’s capacity markets.

“That one simple move would save consumers nearly $10 billion every year.”

Resource Links:

-- PJM Interconnection Holds Next Generation Capacity Auction June 30, Results To Be Announced July 14 [PaEN]

-- PJM Adds New Emergency Procedures To Deal With Strained Grid: A Capacity Advisory; Directive For Data Centers To Use Backup Generators [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Hot Weather Alert For June 29 In Western Region, June 30 to July 3 For Entire Service Area; 5th Alert This Season [PaEN]

-- DOE Issues Emergency Orders To PJM Ahead Of Period Of Hot Weather