On April 25, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell and officials from GIANT Food Stores dedicated the completion of a 625-kilowatt solar panel array at the company’s headquarters in Carlisle, Cumberland County. 

“Addressing climate change and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels will require commitments from companies like GIANT to take an active role in changing how we think about the energy we use,” said McDonnell. “The Wolf administration is committed to expanding solar and other clean energy sources, and projects like GIANT’s both save money and improve the environment.”

Secretary McDonnell attended a short ceremony dedicating the completed first phase of the project and the second phase, which will begin this spring.

The 625-kilowatt rooftop system is the first step in a total 2.46-megawatt system that will produce more than 3 million kilowatt hours annually. This system, combined with a lighting retrofit and a 1.83-megawatt ground-mounted solar system, will eliminate GIANT’s dependency on the electric grid.

To further encourage solar generation, the Wolf administration has taken steps to expand solar in Pennsylvania by providing grants and loans for solar panel installation and signing new legislation to enhance the solar market in the Commonwealth.

Gov. Tom Wolf signed Executive Order 2019-1 on January 8, 2019, which sets greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals for the Commonwealth of 26 percent by 2025 from 2005 levels, and 80 percent by 2050 from 2005 levels. Expanding building-scale solar energy generation is an important action for reducing GHG emissions, increasing grid resiliency, and for adapting to climate change.

DEP has released “Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Plan,” detailing ways that Pennsylvania residents and businesses can achieve a 10-percent increase in installed solar power by 2030. The plan includes 15 strategies to expand solar energy development, which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create up to 100,000 jobs.

NewsClips:

Philadelphia Gas Works Marks Earth Day With New Energy Conservation Grants

Kummer: Want Solar Panels For Your Philadelphia Home? City Reopens Program To Help You Get Them

Solar Ambassadors, Discounts On Installations Part Of Philly’s Plan To Make 2019 Year Of Sun Power

Editorial: Harness Lake Erie’s Wind Energy

Cong. Perry: Natural Gas The Green New Deal Of The Last 10-15 Years

Related Stories This Week:

StateImpact PA: PUC Commissioners Raise Serious Concerns About Bill To Aid Nuclear Power Plants

Greater Pittsburgh Chamber: Bills To Aid Nuclear Power Plants Do Not Strike Balance Between A Healthy Environment, Healthy Economy

Senate Committees To Hold Joint Hearing May 1 On Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards

Senate Republican Policy Committee Holds May 1 Workshop On Climate Change Disruption In PA

House Committee To Hear From Labor, Electricity Ratepayers, Energy Suppliers On Bill To Aid Nuclear Power Plants April 29

Agenda - House Environmental Committee April 29 Hearing On Nuclear Waste Containment In Light Of TMI Closure

DEP To Release 2018 Climate Action Plan Update As Early As Next Week

DEP Awards Over $2.8 Million In Clean Energy Vehicle Grants

PUC Adopts Procedure For Approving Alternative Utility Rates To Encourage Energy Conservation, Distributed Power, Renewable Energy

PUC Invites Comments On Proposed Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Energy-Efficiency Technical Manual

Senate Democratic Policy Committee Held Hearing In Pittsburgh On Methane And Climate Change

DCNR Good Natured Blog: Pennsylvania Forests Keeping Carbon In Penn's Woods

Related Stories:

Gov. Wolf Sets Goal Of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 80% By 2050 From 2005 Levels

PA Solar Future Plan Recommends Dramatic Increase In AEPS Solar Mandate Of Up To 8%

[Posted: April 25, 2019]

4/29/2019