Pennsylvania's Clean Energy Future Takes Center Stage at Community College Tour

Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) joined local officials, energy leaders, and educators to tour the Community College of Allegheny County's (CCAC) North Campus, highlighting the potential of clean energy to cut costs, create jobs, and combat climate change. The event showcased CCAC's 543-Kilowatt solar panel array, which will save the college an estimated $750,000 over its 28-year lifespan, and its Electric Vehicle apprenticeship program, which provides paid training and technical education to meet the demand for skilled EV technicians.

Key Takeaways:

• The solar panel array at CCAC's North Campus will produce enough energy to power 30-40% of the campus's electrical needs, saving the college an estimated $750,000 in energy costs over 28 years.
• The Inflation Reduction Act's federal clean energy tax credits have made it easier and more affordable for Pennsylvanians to make clean energy upgrades.
• The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans' attacks on clean energy programs threaten progress and would hurt Pennsylvanians economically and environmentally.
• CCAC's Electric Vehicle apprenticeship program combines paid training with technical education to meet the demand for skilled EV technicians.
• Pennsylvania's schools following CCAC's lead could produce significant benefits, including generating as much electricity as needed to power 187,000 homes, reducing climate-warming carbon dioxide pollution, and saving schools an estimated $342 million over the lifetime of the systems.
• Replacing 10% of the state's electric generation with solar could result in more than $300 million in net savings annually.
• Renewable energy projects in Pennsylvania have created almost 10,000 jobs, and increasing the solar portion of the state's electricity mix from 0.5% to 10% by 2030 could create upwards of 100,000 jobs and result in a net economic benefit of $1.6 billion annually.
• Congressman Deluzio and local officials are working to protect and expand clean energy programs, recognizing their potential to create jobs, reduce costs, and combat climate change.

Statistics:

• CCAC's 543-Kilowatt solar panel array will save the college an estimated $750,000 in energy costs over 28 years.
• The solar array will produce enough energy to power 30-40% of the campus's electrical needs.
• The Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy tax credits have made it easier for Pennsylvanians to make clean energy upgrades.
• Renewable energy projects in Pennsylvania have created almost 10,000 jobs.
• Replacing 10% of the state's electric generation with solar could result in more than $300 million in net savings annually.
• Increasing the solar portion of the state's electricity mix from 0.5% to 10% by 2030 could create upwards of 100,000 jobs and result in a net economic benefit of $1.6 billion annually.
• 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, and save Pennsylvania schools an estimated $342 million over the lifetime of the systems.

Sources:

• PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center report, Solar Schools for Pennsylvania: Repowering Education with Clean Energy
• Finding Pennsylvania Solar Future Project
• Power Grid Engineering and Markets (PowerGEM) study
• Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio's office