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Governor Rendell Says Pennsylvania Retains Its Leading Status for Green Energy Purchases

Posted on: Thursday, 30 April 2009, 14:56 CDT

State Builds on Its Commitment to Clean Energy, Recognized as 12th Largest Green Power Purchaser on EPA List

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today hailed a ranking released this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that showed Pennsylvania is once again the national leader among state governments for purchasing electricity produced from clean, renewable sources.

According to the EPA's Green Power Purchasers List, Pennsylvania's state government ranks 12th among other state, federal and local governments, businesses, and institutions of higher education in green power purchases, buying 300 million kilowatt hours of electricity -- or 30 percent of the state's demand -- from new renewable energy sources.

Two Pennsylvania universities and several businesses were also listed in the top 50 green power purchasers.

"When Pennsylvania joined the EPA Green Power Partnership, we made a commitment to lead by example by purchasing green power and developing new renewable energy sources in Pennsylvania," Governor Rendell said. "We're pleased to continue seeing that other businesses and universities in the state are following suit. These purchases reduce the environmental impacts of traditional energy generation methods, lessen our dependence on foreign fuels, and create opportunities for new jobs and businesses."

Under a new contract with Renewable Choice Energy Inc., the commonwealth is purchasing 30 percent of state government's electricity from renewable wind and biomass sources. The contract calls for electricity that is generated 10 percent from wind power and 90 percent from existing biomass.

The University of Pennsylvania ranks 19th, up two places from last year with nearly 193,000 megawatt hours of green power purchased, and the Pennsylvania State University ranks 39th with nearly 84,000 megawatt hours of green energy purchased.

Shortly after taking office, Governor Rendell doubled Pennsylvania's renewable energy purchase to 10 percent. In 2006, that commitment doubled again, earning Pennsylvania a 2006 Green Power Leadership award from the EPA and the U.S Department of Energy. The state committed to purchasing 30 percent of its electricity from new renewable energy sources in 2008.

Department of General Services Secretary James P. Creedon notes that the commonwealth's increased green power purchases makes more capital available for new investment in renewable energy sources, which will lead to lower costs and savings for taxpayers.

"Our purchase of green power electricity not only helps save the environment by generating less pollution than conventional power sources, it also helps to better position Pennsylvania financially," Creedon said. "As the green power market expands and creates more competition in the open market, green power costs are expected to decline while conventional power rates are expected to increase over the next few years."

Pennsylvania has become a top destination for renewable and advanced energy companies. World-leading firms like Gamesa, Conergy, Iberdrola, Solar Power Industries and General Electric have all established operations in Pennsylvania, and growing advanced energy firms like Axion Power International, Plextronics and AE Polysilicon are building upon their respective innovations and creating new jobs.

Pennsylvania is also a leader in green buildings. The commonwealth is second only to California in total number of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings with 138 in the state according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger notes that state government must continue to be innovative in order to respond quickly to economic developments worldwide and new challenges closer to home.

"In 2004, our portfolio standards were among the most aggressive in the nation and the result was billions in new energy investment, but other states are catching up and we need to maintain our leadership position in the development of affordable and reliable green energy sources," Hanger said. "Looking forward, Pennsylvania must wisely invest its share of the money from President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to update our existing electric grid, make our homes and businesses more energy efficient, and invest in projects that create new green energy jobs."

In the past year, Governor Rendell and the General Assembly passed significant pieces of legislation to cut energy costs and plot a new direction for Pennsylvania's energy future.

• Act 129 will create programs in all parts of Pennsylvania to reduce total electricity consumption by 3 percent and peak demand by 4.5 percent during the 100 most expensive hours of the year. The act also requires utilities must provide their customers with smart meters within 15 years
• Act 78 and Special Session Act 2 will help reduce dependence on foreign oil in favor of homegrown biofuels that will spur critical investments in local economies and communities while strengthening national security. These new laws, including the nation's first state-specific cellulosic ethanol mandate and a production subsidy for in-state biodiesel producers, are expected to add 1 billion gallons of domestic alternatives to the transportation fuel supply -- an amount equal to what the state expects to import from the Persian Gulf by 2017.
• Special Session Act 1 created the $650 million Alternative Energy Investment Fund to provide loans, grants and tax credits for energy efficiency and conservation projects for homes and small businesses; low-income home energy assistance; development and installation of solar, wind and geothermal technology; and pollution control technology for electricity generators.
• Act 70 requires the DEP to write a climate change plan that will provide a roadmap for economically reducing climate changing pollution.

These investments will spur as much as $3.5 billion in new, private economic development projects from alternative energy companies and will create at least 10,000 good-paying jobs in a rapidly growing industry.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on the "Pennsylvania's Energy Independence" icon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of top 50 green power purchasers is online at www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top50.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 www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT: Tom Rathbun (DEP) 717-787-1323 Michael Smith 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Source: PR Newswire

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