Renewable energy on the rise in Southwest PA

Renewable energy on the rise in Southwest PA

2023-04-20T08:46:33-04:00April 20th, 2023|Economy, Energy, Infrastructure, Pittsburgh, Utilities|

Writer: Ryan Gandolfo

2 min read April 2023 — Pittsburgh’s energy sector has historically been a powerhouse across the U.S. and is well-positioned for innovation in the decades to come.

While Appalachia is one of the most productive natural gas regions in the country, investment has also continued to flow in for renewables such as solar, wind and hydroelectric to diversify the regional economy’s energy production.

Pennsylvania ranks 45th in the U.S. for energy production derived from wind, solar and hydropower at just 3% of total production — surpassing only Mississippi (1%), Louisiana (2%), Connecticut (2%) and New Jersey (2%). The low ranking can be attributed to outdated renewable energy goals, according to Pennsylvania Solar Center Executive Director Sharon Pillar. 

“Even just bumping up the goals is an indicator and a signal that Pennsylvania is open for business, we want renewable energy development,” Pillar told NPR affiliate StateImpact Pennsylvania. “It makes a big difference for investors.” 

As the cost of building new solar plants has dropped off in recent years, about 95% of proposed projects related to electric generation serving the commonwealth are renewables. Gov. Josh Shapiro also raised the state’s standards for electricity sales derived from renewable sources up from 8% to 30% by 2030.

PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center recently produced an interactive map that highlights noteworthy renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the Keystone state. Three initiatives in Southwestern PA that have made waves include Mill 19 at Hazelwood Green, the nation’s largest solar array on a sloped surface in Allegheny County, Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm, the state’s largest wind farm in Cambria County and The Kretschmann Family Organic Farm, which operates on solar power in Beaver County. In Westmoreland County, St. Vincent College in Latrobe has installed more than 300 solar panels on one of its science facilities, which provides more than 150 kilowatts of solar energy.

One of the most recent Pittsburgh area renewable projects is the Gaucho Solar project, which broke ground in late 2022 and is expected to be online this year. The 20-megawatt solar farm near the Pittsburgh International Airport is dedicated to supplying 100% of its electricity to the University of Pittsburgh over the next two decades. According to University Spokesperson Jared Stonesifer, the project, built on 68 acres along the border of Allegheny and Beaver Counties, will put in use about 55,000 solar panels — making it one of the largest solar projects in Western PA.

As the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act continues to roll out tax credits and other incentives for renewable energy projects and the region looks to further develop nation-leading solar and wind farms, Pittsburgh remains poised for a bright and renewable future.

For more information visit: 

https://pasolarcenter.org/

https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/

https://www.pitt.edu/

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