What is the Community Energy Development program?
Community Energy Development is a program designed by the Energy Programs Office to assist local governments in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with development and adoption of actionable energy transition plans. The goal is to provide the technical assistance necessary for Pennsylvania communities to establish the contractual/financial/physical infrastructure needed for things like opt-in Municipal Aggregation, developing and installing locally-based renewable energy generation, local energy cooperatives, or engaging in other similar community energy development projects. Protogen, Inc has been selected as the contractor for DEP to work with the participants on reviewing existing plans and project proposals, making recommendations, and performing assessment services to reduce energy costs and provide options for local/long-term generation or energy procurement.
These services are tailored to each community’s needs and are not a “one size fits all” approach to energy management. Examples of specific technical assistance tasks which are anticipated to be performed for participating local governments include:
- Demand-response market representation (curtailment service provider or responsible interface party)
- Renewable energy adoption and development (Solar PV arrays, Renewable Natural Gas utilization, battery-backed microgrids, etc.)
- Establish local solar/renewable energy co-op
- Assist in development of opt-in municipal/community choice aggregation for residents within participating communities
- Study and development of energy efficiency and weatherization programs for residential and commercial properties, especially low income (this may include plan or program development, identification of funding opportunities, application assistance, etc.).
Audience
- Local Governments looking to establish long-term price stability and savings for themselves and develop similar programs for their residents and businesses
- Local Climate Action Program participants and partners
- Shared Energy Manager Program participants and partners
- Communities looking to develop energy cooperatives
Goals and Metrics
8 Local Governments establishing a renewable energy supply option to residents each year
Execution of government MOUs, RFPs, Ballot referendums to adopt a renewable energy co-op, municipal aggregation PPA or direct generation facility
Anticipated Outcomes
- Local governments developing plans to establish municipally-based wholesale energy procurement
- Development of programs to provide options for residents and businesses
- Protect municipalities, and potentially residents/businesses against energy price spikes
- Increase demand for grid-scale renewable energy to the grid
Securing long-term contracts for stable energy pricing to residents within municipalities which participate
Significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions of municipalities in PA
Program Application
Similar to our Local Climate Action Plan program and Shared Energy Manager, this program is open to local governments (counties, cities, townships, and boroughs) and affiliated organizations such as regional planning organizations, councils of governments and government/municipal authorities. The application period for 2026 is now open and will remain open until April 15th or until the cohort is full (if there are fewer applicants than the program capacity by the deadline). The application is a survey, which you can complete by following the link below:
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Chris Nafe at chnafe@pa.gov or 717-783-9726.