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Green technology

Congressman Deluzio Highlights Economic and Climate Benefits of CCAC North Campus' Solar Panel Array and Electric Vehicle Apprenticeship Program

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio, along with non-profit advocates, energy leaders, educators, and State Representative Arvind Venkat, visited the Community College of Allegheny County's (CCAC) North Campus to tour their large solar panel array and showcase their Electric Vehicle (EV) apprenticeship program. The event emphasized how clean energy projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and electric vehicles can cut energy costs, create energy jobs, and help combat climate change. The event also brought attention to the Trump Administration's and Congressional Republicans' attacks on the clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, which threaten the progress made in clean energy development.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CCAC North Campus' 543-Kilowatt solar installation will save the college an estimated $750,000 in energy costs over the 28-year lifespan, and when factoring in the rising cost of electricity market prices, the solar array will cover the entire roof of the building and produce enough energy to power 30-40% of the campus's electrical needs.
  • CCAC launched an EV apprenticeship program that combines paid training with technical education, which can meet the demand for skilled EV technicians.
  • Congressman Deluzio stated that the solar panel array and Electric Vehicle apprenticeship program at CCAC's North Campus show how federal tax credits help address energy cost problems and provide a clean energy future, while Republicans' attacks on these programs are fiscally reckless.
  • CCAC President Dr. Quintin Bullock emphasized the importance of public, state, federal, and private partnerships in implementing successful initiatives like the solar panel array and EV apprenticeship program.
  • Wanda Wilson, Western Pennsylvania Advocate for PennEnvironment, praised CCAC's leadership on going solar, which can serve as an example for other colleges and universities to follow.
  • Annie Regan, Campaigns Director at PennFuture, commended Congressman Deluzio for standing up to protect federal clean energy incentives, which would hurt Pennsylvanians economically and environmentally.
  • Student volunteer Gavin Lynch highlighted the importance of clean energy for families and children, emphasizing that affordable zero-emission energy should not be a partisan issue.
  • Natalie Davidson, Conservation Voters of PA's Allegheny County Civic Engagement Coordinator, commended CCAC for leading in clean energy and encouraged school districts to follow their example.
  • CCAC's solar panel array and EV apprenticeship program demonstrate the potential benefits of clean energy for the Commonwealth, including reducing climate-warming carbon dioxide pollution and creating jobs.

Statistics:

  • The CCAC solar panel array will produce enough energy to power 30-40% of the campus's electrical needs.
  • The solar array will save the college an estimated $750,000 in energy costs over the 28-year lifespan.
  • A recent PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center report found that putting solar energy on the roofs of schools across Pennsylvania could produce as much electricity as is needed to power 187,000 homes each year, reduce climate-warming carbon dioxide pollution equal to taking nearly 300,000 cars off the road annually, and save Pennsylvania schools an estimated $342 million over the lifetime of the systems.
  • A study from Power Grid Engineering & Markets (PowerGEM) found that replacing 10% of the state's electric generation with solar would result in more than $300 million in net savings annually.
  • Pennsylvania renewable energy projects have created almost 10,000 jobs spanning the entire supply chain, from technicians and engineers to salespeople, construction workers, and manufacturers.
  • A report by the Finding Pennsylvania Solar Future Project found that increasing the solar portion of the state's electricity mix from 0.5% to 10% by 2030 would create upwards of 100,000 jobs and result in a net economic benefit of $1.6 billion annually.

Sources:

  • Congressman Chris Deluzio (link is external)
  • CCAC North Campus' solar panel array (link is external)
  • PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center report: Solar Schools for Pennsylvania: Repowering Education with Clean Energy (link is external)
  • Power Grid Engineering & Markets (PowerGEM) study (link is external)
  • Finding Pennsylvania Solar Future Project (link is external)
  • Moms Clean Air Force (link is external)
  • Conservation Voters of PA (link is external)
  • PennFuture (link is external)

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