Gov. Shapiro Announces Pennsylvania Clean Energy Plan, Projected to Create 14,500 Jobs and Save Consumers $252 Million

Harrisburg, PA  — Today Governor Shapiro introduced plans for two new measures to diversify energy sources and reduce emissions in Pennsylvania. The proposed Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) requires that 35% of Pennsylvania’s electricity come from clean and renewable sources by 2035, including solar, wind, hydropower, and battery storage. The Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) is a state-specific cap-and-invest program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in the Commonwealth. 

“These plans will create new jobs, lower utility costs for families, and ensure cleaner and healthier air for everyone to breathe,” said Climate Power Interim States Managing Director André Crombie. “Governor Shapiro is demonstrating much-needed leadership on climate by proposing common-sense standards to curb pollution. Climate Power applauds this critical step to increase renewable energy generation in the Commonwealth.” 

Currently, Pennsylvania ranks 45th in the country in terms of investing in clean energy. The proposed PRESS and PACER plans aim to push Pennsylvania forward as a leader in clean, reliable, and affordable energy. Governor Shapiro’s PACER plan seeks to put a cap-and-invest program in place in Pennsylvania, as participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is still being litigated in the state Supreme Court. PRESS aims to create a more reliable range of energy sources to combat threats to the power grid, particularly as extreme weather events become more common and unpredictable.

Since the passage of President Biden’s affordable clean energy plan, Pennsylvania has received $875.1 million in federal investments in new clean energy projects. Gov. Shapiro’s proposed plans would create an additional 14,500 jobs and save rate-payers $252 million in the first five years. Together, these plans open the door to more federal investments from the Affordable Clean Energy Plan, expand energy options and access, and ensure a cleaner environment for all Pennsylvanians.  With these historic federal investment opportunities, now is the time for the state to act.

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