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PA Solar Center, Philadelphia Energy Authority To Hold April 22 Webinar On How Businesses, Municipalities, Schools Can Save Money Going Solar In Southeast PA

On Earth Day-- Tuesday, April 22-- the Philadelphia Energy Authority and the Pennsylvania Solar Center will host a free webinar over Zoom for businesses, municipalities, schools, and other nonprofits in the five-county Greater Philadelphia region to learn how they can save major money on their electricity bill by going solar – and in certain cases, with little to no money down.

PEA’s Solarize Greater Philadelphia program is partnering with the PA Solar Center’s GET Solar initiative to offer trusted, unbiased technical assistance and financial guidance to large consumers of energy considering flipping the switch to solar.

At the April 22nd meeting, which will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., PEA and the PA Solar Center will go over the benefits of participating in the GET Solar program, which is free or low-cost to join.

GET Solar can walk organizations through the various federal tax incentives, grants, and special financing available, which can save organizations 30 percent or more in the cost of solar installation, as well as help in connecting them to qualified and reputable solar developers.

“Solar energy is a fantastic investment – especially at a time when electricity costs are forecast to climb higher and higher,” said Lisa Shulock, Director of Commercial Programs at the Philadelphia Energy Authority. “With the proper system design and the right mix of financial incentives, solar energy significantly reduces operating costs at facilities large and small. Adding solar is a particularly smart approach for large energy consumers facing unpredictable and escalating electricity prices.”

“With energy bills rising significantly over the past few years, and projected to rise up to an additional 29 percent in 2025, many consumers are saving significantly by flipping the switch to solar,” said Sharon Pillar, Founder and Executive Director of the PA Solar Center. “Larger consumers of energy like businesses and other organizations can often save thousands to tens of thousands of dollars on their electric bills. Further, there are current tax credits and grant programs in place that can make the transition very favorable to the consumer – but we don’t know how long these programs will be around, so we’re encouraging businesses and tax-exempt organizations to lock them in by going solar as soon as possible.”

Many graduates of the GET Solar program from other regions of the state are now saving a lot of money by going solar.

Wesley Family Services, a nonprofit in Westmoreland County, recently went solar with their help and estimates that their solar system will save them $700,000 over the next 25 years.

Their solar system covers an estimated 78% of their monthly electricity requirement.

Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) also participated in the GET Solar program. Thanks to a Power Purchase Agreement with its solar developer, the college did not have to spend any of its own money on the solar installation, which will save CCAC about $750,000 in energy costs over the next 28 years.

The PA Solar Center will explain how Power Purchase Agreements work during the April 22nd meeting.

81 Areas That Could Benefit From Solar

The PA Solar Center has already mapped, via its volunteer SolarCorps program, about 81 commercial and tax-exempt sites in Montgomery County identified as Low-Income Disadvantaged Communities that could benefit from solar energy.

Their efforts have spotted opportunities for 20 megawatts of solar, with collective potential for more than $60 million in electricity savings over the next 25 years.

The PA Solar Center will continue to map other disadvantaged communities in the Greater Philadelphia region over the coming year.

Solar energy is the fastest growing energy in the country and is saving businesses, nonprofits, communities, and residents thousands of dollars in utility bills.

Organizations that go solar are hedging against volatile electricity pricing because the cost of solar, once the upfront equipment costs are paid, is free.

Join The Webinar

The meeting is free, but registration is required. Click Here to register.

The Philadelphia Energy Authority is an independent municipal authority focused on building a robust, equitable clean energy economy for Philadelphia.

PEA leads the Philadelphia Energy Campaign, a 10-year investment in energy efficiency and clean energy projects.

To date, PEA has supported more than $1 billion in projects and created more than 8,300 jobs.

The Pennsylvania Solar Center is a nonprofit organization with the mission to expand the benefits of solar to all Pennsylvanians.

The Center offers technical assistance to non-profit organizations, businesses, and communities to help them go solar, savvy media communications and online resources for all solar stakeholders, and education for decision-makers and advocates about the benefits of robust solar policy.

The PA Solar Center provides an online directory of qualified solar developers, a map of notable solar installations, a monthly solar webinar series, and a listing of solar events happening across the state.

Related Articles This Week:

-- PA House Bill Introduced Authorizing Community Solar Energy Programs [PaEN]

-- PUC To Host Meeting Of The PA Sustainable Energy Board On April 17 [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center, Philadelphia Energy Authority To Hold April 22 Webinar On How Businesses, Municipalities, Schools Can Save Money Going Solar In Southeast PA [PaEN]

-- Reminder: DEP April 17 Climate Action Plan Community Climate Conversations Webinar. 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Read more here.

-- Penn State Institute Of Energy And The Environment To Hold Climate Solutions Symposium May 19-20 In State College

-- President Issues Executive Orders Requiring 1 Year Sunset Dates On Existing Regulations Affecting Energy; Identifying Regulations Limiting Competition [PaEN]

-- President Signs Executive Orders Directing US Attorney General To Take Action Against States Impeding Domestic Energy Production; Rescinds Policies Transition Away From Coal; Lifts Toxics Standards For Coal Power Plants [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Supports Presidential Exemptions From Clean Air Act Standards Requested By 13,900 MW Of Electric Generation In PJM Region, Including Keystone And Conemaugh Power Plants In PA [PaEN]

-- Liberty Energy, Range Resources Announce Support For Developing A Natural Gas Data Center Power Plant In Robinson Twp., Washington County [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- AP-Marc Levy: President’s New Energy Order Puts State’s Climate Law In The Crosshairs Of The US Dept. Of Justice [PA Included]