Resources

Building Your Resume for a Clean Energy Job

Jan. 2023: Ready to join EERE (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy), but unsure how to prepare your federal resume so you can begin the application process? EERE’s Workforce Management Office hosted a workshop on just that topic!

Watch the workshop videos, and learn from our very own hiring experts to better understand the federal hiring process. For more info, click here.

30% Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) restored the Investment Tax Credit to 30% for solar PV systems installed in 2022 - 2032. This federal tax credit is on the installed cost and may be taken over several years. DOE’s handy new Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics answers the most common questions from homeowners, including:

  • Am I eligible to claim the federal solar tax credit?

  • What expenses are included?

  • How do other incentives I receive affect the federal tax credit?

Inflation Reduction Act Loaded with Incentives

With $369 Billion in clean energy and related incentives, the IRA is the first significant piece of federal legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and addressing climate change. It kicks America’s clean energy transition into high gear. While some of the detailed guidance is still being written, the basic outline of the solar and decarbonization incentives is now in law. One of the best websites explaining how this works is The White House’s new tool.

The Biden Administration’s Justice 40 policy, a strong commitment to environmental justice, is reflected in the fact that the IRA provides unprecedented incentives for low and low moderate income Americans to help them decarbonize their homes and their transportation. An extremely helpful new tool helps you calculate in minutes how much money you can save as you switch from fossil fuels to clean electricity in your home. Check it out ! More information can be found at these websites:

Pennsylvania summary

CNBC When to claim tax breaks

Crowe Tax insights on IRA credits

PA Issues Guidance on Grid Scale Solar

PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) published comprehensive guidance on grid scale development in PA. This will be extremely helpful to the many landowners, solar developers and local officials working on projects across the state. The new resource, Conservation Considerations for Siting, Planning, and Maintaining Grid-Scale Solar Systems in Pennsylvania includes a number of key resources for informed planning and decision-making.

Cybersecurity Benefits of Solar getting Stronger

DOE’s new report details the cybersecurity benefits of distributed solar generation and makes a series of recommendations as to how to strengthen them further. This is increasingly important as we are now seeing energy used as a weapon of war.

Useful Solar Websites:

to learn more about solar:

PUC Approves Rate Increase for PECO

Nov. 2021, HARRISBURG: The PA Public Utility Commission (PUC) adopted a Joint Petition for Settlement involving PECO Energy Company – Electric Division (PECO) and various other parties which approved a rate increase of 11.5% for the utility.

The Commission voted to approve a net revenue increase of $132 million for PECO. Under the settlement approved, the bill for a typical residential customer using 700 kWh per month increased by $6.66 per month.

Ever Wonder What Energy Sources are Powering Us?

Nov. 2021: There is a new tool which maps of all the AEPS resources. You can hover and zoom into each county or zip code in the state (or even country!) to see how many of a specific energy source there are. You can change the energy source in the “Select Fuel Type” box at the top. To take a look, click here.

Philadelphia “Green Bank”

Sept. 2021: The Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. (PGCC) is open for business to provide low-cost financing options for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the Philadelphia region. PGCC’s vision is to spur the growth of a thriving, clean energy market that serves all Philadelphians.  This “Green Bank” is an affiliate of the Philadelphia Energy Authority. To read more, click here.

Go solar, with Solarize Philly

Sept. 2021: Join Solarize Philly, a citywide program run by the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), to go solar at your home or business. The program offers pricing discounts, vetted installers, important consumer protections, and support of the interconnection and permitting processes.

Solarize Philly is the largest initiative of its kind in the country. Since the program's launch in 2017, over 1000 homes have gone solar, and over $14 million has been invested in communities across the city. 

Sign up for a free solar assessment of your home or business at solarizephilly.org.

Navigating the Leasing Process of Utility Scale Solar in Pennsylvania

Sept. 2021: This is an educational seminar for interested landowners that have been approached by solar developers to lease their property. Various issues to consider are presented, prior to undertaking this endeavor.

To hear the recording, click here.

How Solar Panel Depreciation Works

Depreciation on solar panels is one of the easiest ways businesses and farms looking to go solar can keep installation costs down, ROIs high, and paybacks short. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 brought with it the option for 100% bonus depreciation on solar systems - which is often a great way for businesses to quickly recover costs associated with integrating solar energy. Whether it’s 3, 5, 7, or 10 years, your investment’s recovery period depends on the type of investment you make. Solar systems fall under the 5 year schedule.

To learn more about how this works, click here.

Procuring Large-Scale Renewables thru Aggregation

Local governments across the US are setting ambitious goals to transition to renewable energy. Since most municipalities cannot supply 100% of their electricity needs with on-site supply alone, they often look to purchase off-site renewable energy. One approach to do this that can provide numerous benefits is buyer-led aggregation.

Aggregation is an innovative yet underutilized approach in which two or more buyers collaborate to purchase energy from a large-scale generation facility.  To read more, click here.

The Solar industry is growing at an unprecedented pace, come here to stay up to date on PA Solar industry news.

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SolarAPP now available for FREE

SolarAPP, a new software that automates solar permitting is now available to every municipality in PA for free from the National Renewable Energy Lab(NREL). In order to increase efficiency and reduce soft costs, DOE and NREL are developing powerful new tools and making them available for free. SolarAPP has been rigorously tested and has already been adopted in several states. It saves money for municipalities, and improves customer service by eliminating delays. For more information contact Liz Robinson, lizhrob2@gmail.com and check out the NREL website: https://solarapp.nrel.gov/

Solarize Philly Webinar

On Wednesday, March 10th, Solarize Philly held a webinar on managing Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) and monitoring solar PV systems. Solarize Philly was joined by Ron Celentano from the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association (PSEA) and Celentano Energy Services, and Niamh McCrohan from Solar States.

Here is the webinar recording in case you missed the event.

 

Farms have key role in Climate Crisis

A new report from E2 does an excellent job describing the key role that America’s farms can play in solving the climate crisis. The pandemic has been very hard on farmers who are now burdened with record debt levels. Carbon sequestration in soil can not only be a new cash crop, but can improve yields while reducing the cost of chemical fertilizers and other inputs. Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector has a significant opportunity for economic recovery by adopting climate-smart agricultural practices.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative RGGI coming soon to Pennsylvania

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s oldest and largest carbon market could be coming soon to PA. As PSEA Executive Director, Liz Robinson, explains in this webinar, RGGI is the most important clean energy and climate crisis policy of the Wolf Administration. RGGI will enable Pennsylvania to create 67,000 new jobs, reduce carbon emissions, grow our economy, reduce energy costs for the average person, and produce almost $7 Billion in health benefits. RGGI is truly a WIN WIN WIN for the Keystone State. You still have time to support RGGI by signing on here.

A new video on RGGI explains the program clearly and can be used with any audience.

Solving the Climate Crisis

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis has published the most comprehensive and ambitious climate action plan ever issued by any American governmental body. In over 500 pages, it lays out detailed actions to reach 100% clean, net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050, provide $8 Trillion in economic benefits by 2050 and reestablish the US as a leader in clean energy and related technologies of the future.

Green Stimulus Plans

It is clear that a large stimulus plan will be essential for the USA to begin to recover from the economic damage caused by the pandemic. Penn Future’s “A Green Stimulus and Recovery Platform for Pennsylvania” is an excellent and extremely do-able plan, setting out recommendations that will preserve or create over 389,000 jobs, increase income for struggling farmers, and strengthen small businesses across the Commonwealth.

How to Grow PA’s Clean Energy Economy

Recovering from the pandemic will require job creation and economic stimulus. With Congress in gridlock, action at the State level becomes critically important. Liz Robinson, PSEA’s Executive Director provides a roadmap to grow PA’s Clean Energy Economy and create more than 120,000 new jobs statewide.

Extreme climate change in USA

A detailed report from the Washington Post finds that the United States is increasingly experiencing climate change impacts, and those impacts are not evenly spread. The three states that are warming the fastest are Alaska, Rhode Island and New Jersey.

New Poll finds Pennsylvanians want cleaner air and cleaner energy

A new poll of Pennsylvanians statewide finds that 89% of voters want their elected representatives to be doing more to support clean air and clean energy. Democrats, Independents and Republicans overwhelmingly support public policy that improves environmental protections. Clean air is not a partisan issue.

PA Needs Carbon Market

A new analysis from NRDC finds that a combination of energy policies is needed to reduce carbon emissions, lower energy costs for customers, create local jobs and stabilize energy markets in Pennsylvania. These policies include a carbon cap and trade program, a Renewable Portfolio Standard goal of at least 30% renewable energy by 2030, including 10% solar, and higher goals in PA’s energy efficiency programs. No single policy is enough. There are no silver bullets. Complimentary policies are needed to achieve a transition to a clean energy future. More details are available here.

Using C-PACE for C&I Solar

Commercial property owners can use C-PACE to pay for on-site solar installations. C-PACE financing generally has low interest rates and can cover 100% of system and installation costs (including roof work, if necessary). Repayment is through a special assessment similar to a property tax and terms can be up to 30 years. Please see attached brochure and PhiladelphiaCPACE.org for more information. The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) administers the program and can help facilitate C-PACE for your building. Contact CPACE@philaenergy.org for more information. 

DEP and PUC release 2018 AEPS Report

The annual report on implementation of the PA Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) was released in December 2019. Its highlights include:

  • The cost of AEPS compliance is very low, accounting for only $.007 (7/10 of one cent) of every dollar spent by Pennsylvanians on electric service (the total amount spent on credits in compliance year 2018 was around $110 million, with about $92 million spent on Tier 1 credits, $15 million spent on solar credits, and less than $3 million spent on Tier 2 credits),

  • The AEPS has helped to create thousands of clean energy jobs statewide,

  • Act 129 has lowered the cost of AEPS compliance by reducing electricity consumption and thereby the number of alternative energy credits (AECs) that electric distribution companies (EDCs) and electric generation suppliers (EGS) need to buy,

  • The AEPS expires in 2021 and needs to be expanded and extended if PA is to continue to clean its energy portfolio.

Renewables to Surpass Gas by 2035 in PA

According to the Pittsburgh City Paper, a new study by the Rocky Mountain Institute finds that as the price of wind and solar continue to fall, renewables will be less expensive than 90% of the natural gas plants in PA by 2035. These findings and other related studies raise increasing concern about “stranded costs” in the natural gas industry as pipelines and other expensive infrastructure continues to be built.

New video: Rise of Solar Power

This new video is a great summary of solar power today and where the industry is going. https://enviropolitics.com/the-rise-of-solar-power-growth-nobody-expected-and-where-its-likely-to-lead/?preview=true

PA 2020 Small Business Advantage Grants Open

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now taking applications for Small Business Advantage Grants for businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Grants for 50% of materials are given for projects that increase energy efficiency or reduce emissions. New this year is the inclusion of solar thermal technologies. Solar PV is not eligible. For more information go to the Small Business Grant webpage. Do it today, as these grants always go fast.

PUC issues Analysis of Policy Options on Nukes

The Analysis of Pennsylvania Nuclear Plants and Available Policy Alternatives, by PUC Commissioner Andrew Place and staff finds that only one nuclear reactor in PA, TMI, is uneconomic. The Analysis lays out a detailed review of a number of policy options to begin to answer the question: What are the options for PA to replace the output of TMI with clean power? The report finds that the least expensive option is energy efficiency: “If energy efficiency goals were increased by 1% of statewide usage per year, the loss of the zero-carbon generation from TMI could be replaced in 5 years…. Energy efficiency has no net cost to consumers. Net positive benefits have been observed for every year during implementation of Act 129.” p. 12 The report also reviews expanding the AEPS Tier 1 resources of solar and wind, as well as several options to develop a carbon market in PA.

Low Income Solar Access Guide now available

Vote Solar and Grid Alternatives have just released a new guide that outlines some of the best policies and programs that can pave the pathway to an equitable clean energy future.  https://www.lowincomesolar.org/

 

Governor Wolf Executive Order

Under the executive order signed by Governor Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania will work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent by 2025, and 80 percent by 2050, compared to 2005 levels. PA will reconvene the GreenGov Council to develop a more specific climate action plan. The executive order spells out a number of steps to be taken to reduce carbon emissions from state buildings by 3% per year.

Community Solar Policy Guide

The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) released the 2019 Community Solar Policy Decision Matrix, designed to lead policymakers through important questions and answers associated with passing community solar legislation, developing new programs and expanding existing programs across the country. The policy guide provides a menu of options, focusing on areas that will spur market development while providing policymakers with options to customize community solar programs to meet each state’s unique energy needs and policy goals.

 

Community Solar

MAKING SOLAR AVAILABLE TO ALL PENNSYLVANIANS

There are countless benefits to solar energy. But for Pennsylvanians who rent or don’t live in sunny areas, the traditional panels-on-your-rooftop approach simply doesn’t work. The solution: Community solar. Community solar allows multiple customers to share power from a single solar array, helping ALL Pennsylvanians harness the benefits of solar energy.

Community solar can allow many small users to come together to gain access to low cost solar power.

Community solar can allow many small users to come together to gain access to low cost solar power.

BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY SOLAR
•Creates new economic development opportunities through job creation, tax potential, and local investment.
•Supports PA’s solar contractors and related businesses, currently the fastest growing energy sector in the state.
•Increases clean energy production, often during peak demand periods when electricity is most needed.
•Improves the reliability and resilience of the electric grid, helping reduce power outages.
• Allows people to pool resources to build projects, reducing overall project costs and contributing tolonger-term electric price stability.
• Offers renters and those who are unable to install solar energy on their own homes or businessesthe opportunity and choice to participate in Pennsylvania’sgrowing solar marketplace.
• Contributes to Pennsylvania’s goal of providing a cleaner,healthier and safer environment for all its residents.
• Can help low-to-moderate income residents and rentersto receive the benefits of clean energy systems.Current Pennsylvania law does not permit community solar, preventing more than half of Pennsylvania residents from benefiting from solar energy. Lack of suitable rooftop, lack of financing or inability to afford a full system are some of the reasons that may keep residents from accessing solar energy. Community solar would expand solar access and allow all Pennsylvanians the opportunity to subscribe to the energy from shared solar energy systems.

How does community solar work?

How does community solar work?

 

Community Solar Interactive Toolkit

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) has a new interactive toolkit on Community Solar designed to help state and local governments implement this important policy successfully. Check it out!

Solar PV Systems: Best Practices for Local Government

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has developed a set of materials and resources to help local governments increase the use of solar photovoltaic energy in their municipalities. DVRPC may also have some technical assistance and training available for local governments.

FINDING PENNSYLVANIA'S SOLAR FUTURE

The goal of Finding Pennsylvania’s Solar Future is to create a shared vision statewide for the most effective ways Pennsylvania can reach its objective of 10% of in-state electricity sales generated by in-state solar energy.

 
Photo by zstockphotos/iStock / Getty Images

Photo by zstockphotos/iStock / Getty Images

Solar Job Growth Continues

Clean energy jobs increased 6% to more than 90,000+ in Pennsylvania in 2018, 5 times faster than statewide employment growth according to the 2019 jobs report from E2. The job growth continues to be distributed all across the state, in rural, suburban and urban areas. There are almost 5,000 solar jobs now in PA! There are twice as many jobs in clean energy as there are in fossil fuel in Pennsylvania. Unlike many jobs in the fossil fuel industry, clean energy jobs are local.

 

Final C-PACE Guidelines Issued

These PA C-PACE Program Guidelines can be used by local governments (counties) to adopt a C-PACE program in their jurisdiction.  The Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) and the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA) have met with several counties about C-PACE and will present at the County Commissioners Association of PA Spring Conference.  The PA C-PACE Program Guidelines a key element of “C-PACE in a Box” which includes other legal documents and a county resolution.  C-PACE in a Box is available to any local unit of government in Pennsylvania by simply contacting cpace@pennsylvaniacpace.org

 

PA joins regional Transportation Climate Initiative

Governor Wolf joins eight other governors from Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, and the mayor of Washington, D.C., who have committed to developing a regional clean transportation system that will bring communities together, promote economic growth and create a sustainable world. This Transportation and Climate Initiative will develop a plan within the next 12 months to significantly lower carbon emissions from the region’s transportation sector. This will help accelerate the development of the electric vehicle infrastructure, improvements in rail and other public transportation, and other initiatives. The Georgetown Climate Center’s recent analysis examines the potential reductions that could be achieved by 2030.

High performing homes consistently bring a higher price at time of sale,  and they hold their value.  A recent study from the North Carolina Building Performance Association provides indepth research in multiple markets across the state. 

Cost of Solar Drops! Now competitive w/gas & wind

According to the 2017 Lazard analysis,  the cost of utility scale solar has continued to decline to the point that it is now competitive with natural gas and wind.  Community Solar can take advantage of the utility scale.   

SEPTA’s Sustainability Plan invests in Solar

SEPTA has ambitious plans to electrify its buses and trains, and will build 3 MWs of solar on several buildings. Check out the Annual Report for details.

Pittsburgh’s Goin’ Solar

Demand for rooftop and Community Solar are steadily growing in Steeltown!