Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined the Public Utility Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) today to announce 2 gigawatts of installed solar energy in Pennsylvania, only 17 months after crossing the 1-gigawatt threshold.
“Clean, renewable energy like solar helps reduce air pollution, fights climate change, and helps meet our growing electricity needs. This is a momentous milestone, and there is now enough installed solar capacity in Pennsylvania to power 350,000 homes,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Putting more solar power onto the grid is part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s Lightning Plan – an all of the above energy plan to create jobs, lower energy costs for consumers, and fight climate change.”
The celebration took place in front of a 342-kW solar array at Gifford Pinchot State Park’s Quaker Race Day Use Area, which provides shade for ADA-accessible picnic areas and parking while generating clean energy. By 2030, DCNR will derive all of its electricity from renewables, about half of that through solar installations.
“This park uses clean energy from the sun and provides shade for cars in the parking area, modeling a practical way we can take climate action and serve visitors in an innovative way,” DCNR Deputy Secretary Mike Walsh said. “For 30 years, DCNR has been managing Pennsylvania’s natural resources with sustainability at the forefront. With leadership from Governor Shapiro, we continue to focus on the stewardship that strengthens communities and enhances our quality of life.”
Increasing renewable energy like solar is part of Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan. The plan would create or protect more than 15,000 Pennsylvania jobs, save more than $660 million for consumers by 2040, and generate more than $11 billion in clean, reliable energy investments. Updates to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard through the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) proposal would incentivize more clean energy as part of Pennsylvania’s electricity mix.
Further investments in clean energy could come from Community Energy projects that allow communities to jointly invest in local energy projects and sell excess electricity to the grid. And the proposed Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) PACER would establish a cap-and-invest program to set Pennsylvania’s carbon limit and invest in reducing electricity costs. Under PACER, 70 percent of the revenue generated would be returned to Pennsylvanians as rebates on their electric bills.
As DEP celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, the Shapiro Administration is committed to protecting Pennsylvanians’ air, land, and water from pollution. DEP will continue to work as partners with people, businesses, and organizations to protect our natural resources and public health, now and forever.
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