PA Launching Largest Government Solar Power Effort In U.S.

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania is about to launch a clean energy effort that will produce approximately 50 percent of the state government's electricity through seven solar energy arrays. It's part of what the state calls its GreenGov initiative.

Solar arrays, a collection of multiple solar panels that generate electricity as a system, will be built in seven locations in six counties: Columbia, Juniata, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and York. When completed, the total 191-megawatt project is expected to deliver 361,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, supplying 100 percent of electricity for 434 accounts across 16 state agencies.

That's about half the electricity used by state government. The initiative, scheduled to begin in January 2023, is the largest solar commitment by any state or local government in the country.

“Pennsylvania has been a national energy leader for more than one hundred years," Gov. Tom Wolf said in a news release. "As we continue to diversify our grid with clean renewable sources of energy, we want to maintain Pennsylvania’s leadership position and bring the associated economic, health and environmental benefits to all Pennsylvanians."

The state Department of General Services contracted with Constellation, a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission-licensed electric generation supplier, to secure a 15-year fixed-price supply agreement. The Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute will serve as an advisor on the project.

The solar project will create 400-plus jobs and begin lowering carbon dioxide emissions statewide by 157,800 metric tons each year – the equivalent of the emissions from nearly 27,000 homes or
taking 34,000 cars off the roads.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to slowing climate change and protecting our health and safety, environment, and economy,” said state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “With over 85 percent of Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from energy production and use, pursuing clean energy and energy efficiency at the enterprise scale, as the state government solar procurement demonstrates, will make a big impact."