Governor Rendell Touts PA’s Accomplishments Before National Renewable Energy Leaders

To: STATE EDITORS

Contact: Barry Ciccocioppo of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116; or Michael Smith (DEP), +1-717-787-1323

Says EPA Lists PA Among Leading Green Power Purchasers;

Urges Legislature to Adopt Energy Independence Strategy

PHILADELPHIA,Oct. 23/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ –Pennsylvanias renewable energy achievements took center stage today when Governor Edward G. Rendell spoke to hundreds of business leaders at one of the nations premier renewable energy conferences.

In his remarks, the Governor said 28 percent of the electricity used to power the commonwealths government operations is produced from renewable sources. He also used the states return to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys list of top 25 green power purchasers to show the states commitment to clean energy technologies and to underscore the rapid growth of this industry.

The commonwealth first appeared on the EPAs top 25 list two years ago with 34,800 megawatt hours of qualifying green power purchased, Governor Rendell said. Today, that amount isnt enough to get near the top 25. More and more, companies and organizations are realizing the importance of purchasing clean and renewable energy for our economy and our environment.

According to the EPAs Green Power Partnership standings, with 157,200 megawatt hours of qualifying green power, Pennsylvania ranks 13th nationally among companies and government agencies buying clean renewable energy. Pennsylvania is the only state in the top 25. The University of Pennsylvania ranks 21st, while other international corporations with operations in Pennsylvania also made the list, including Pepsi, Wells Fargo, Whole Foods Market, Johnson and Johnson, Kohls, Starbucks, DuPont, Staples and IBM.

Pennsylvania is committed to doing more than just purchasing renewable energy; were committed to growing it as an industry, Governor Rendell said. The fact that Pennsylvania made the EPAs green purchaser list is proof of that commitment, and a strong reason for renewable energy companies to locate here. To help attract growth in this industry, I proposed the Energy Independence Strategy earlier this year — a plan that will invest $606 million to attract more economic development in the rapidly growing alternative and renewable energy industries.

Were among the top destinations for cutting-edge projects in renewable energy fields because weve invested in and made commitments to this industry, the Governor said. Three years ago, we passed a historic Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act requiring that 18 percent of all retail electricity come from alternative and renewable sources by 2021. However, despite our achievements, we realize that other states and other nations are stepping up to compete with us.

The Governor pointed to worldwide statistics that show $85 billion in investment capital is expected to reach the market this year. Last year, investors injected $71 billion into the renewable energy sector, which was up 43 percent from 2005.

Pennsylvania, he said, is only able to support approximately 10 percent of the requests it receives for economic development funding for alternative and renewable energy projects, which means the commonwealth is missing out on at least $100 million in new investments each year.

With the Energy Independence Strategy I put forth, we can ensure that more dollars come to Pennsylvania and create opportunities for our citizens. By leveraging the total $850 million fund Ive proposed, we can attract $3.5 billion and open the doors to 13,000 new jobs for the states talented and hardworking men and women. With numbers like that, how can we not jump at this chance?

The Energy Independence Strategy is the subject of a special legislative session, which the Governor convened Sept. 17. In remarks to a joint session of the General Assembly, the Governor urged lawmakers to focus on two components of the plan: the PennSecurity Fuels Initiative and the $850 million Energy Independence Fund.

Under the PennSecurity Fuels Initiative, Pennsylvania will be required to produce and consume nearly 1 billion gallons of biofuel – - an amount equal to what the state will import from the Persian Gulf by 2017.

The PennSecurity Fuels Initiative will require that every gallon of gasoline sold in Pennsylvania include 10 percent ethanol once in- state production reaches 200 million gallons per year; and every gallon of diesel fuel will include 2 percent biodiesel once production reaches 30 million gallons per year with incremental increases up to 20 percent once annual production reaches 300 million gallons.

The Energy Independence Fund will be used to support the following clean energy activities:

— $244 million – Household appliance rebates and PA Sunshine Grants

— $106 million – Venture capital, grants and loans for expansion of alternative energy companies

— $500 million – Clean energy projects and development or equipment costs for specific energy economic development projects

With oil near the $90-a-barrel mark, continued political unrest in oil producing nations, a changing climate, stronger air quality rules, and threat of double- and triple-digit increases in electricity rates in the coming years, the time to invest in clean and renewable forms of energy, along with conservation and efficiency measures, is now, Governor Rendell said. These issues have once again made energy a front burner issue because they represent a very real threat to our economy and national security.

I believe renewable energy will dominate the economy for the next two decades the way information technology and life sciences have dominated the economy of the last two decades. To ensure Pennsylvania isnt left behind, I again call on the legislature to adopt the Energy Independence Strategy.

For more information on the Energy Independence Strategy, visit www.depweb.state.pa.usand click on the Fueling Energy Savings icon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys list of top 25 green power purchasers is online at: http://epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/ top25.htm.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at:www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo

717-783-1116

Michael Smith (DEP)

717-787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

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