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March 31, 2021

Pennsylvania has an identity as being a Rust Belt state defined more  by industrial steel and coal than with burgeoning energy technology like  solar or wind turbines. Governor Tom Wolf has apparently set out to  change that with a major new deal.

In late March, Gov. Wolf  announced Pennsylvania PULSE (Project to Utilize Light and Solar  Energy), wherein seven solar arrays will produce 50 percent of the state  government’s electricity. The initiative is being touted as the largest  solar commitment by any government in the U.S. to date by providing 100  percent of the electricity for 16 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania  agencies.

Pennsylvania PULSE is being held up as a step towards  not only lowering the state’s carbon emissions, but driving more  economic opportunities for residents.

“Pennsylvania has been a  national energy leader for more than one hundred years,” says Wolf in a  press 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 initiative is  being made possible through a power purchase agreement with  Constellation, a major energy provider. Under the contract, the state  will source solar electricity through the end of 2037.

The project  is part of Gov. Wolf’s GreenGov Council, which he describes as charging  “state government with leading by example in demonstrating sustainable  governance and lowering greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the risks of  climate change in Pennsylvania.” The council is co-chaired by the  Departments of General Services, Environmental Protection, and  Conservation and Natural Resources.

It also falls in line with the  Climate Change Executive Order Wolf signed in 2019 to lower  Pennsylvania’s greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent by 2025 and 80  percent by 2050 compared with 2005 levels.

Another aspect of  Wolf’s order strives to create at least 40 percent of electricity from  clean sources located in the state, something PULSE seems primed to do.  The arrays will be built throughout the state in the counties of  Columbia, Juniata, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and York, and are  expected to deliver 361,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to slowing  climate change and protecting our health and safety, environment, and  economy,” says Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection  Secretary Patrick McDonnell, who adds that over 85 percent of the  state’s greenhouse gas emissions come from energy production and use.

McDonnell  adds that research shows the clean energy sector is a “leading creator  of quality jobs in Pennsylvania, bringing positive economic impacts as  well.” In total, Pennsylvania PULSE is projected to create over 400  jobs, mostly in the area of construction.

Local environmental  groups are already applauding Pennsylvania PULSE. This includes  PennFuture, a nonprofit focused on tackling polluters, enforcing  environmental protection laws, and transitioning Pennsylvania to a clean  energy economy.

In a statement, Rob Altenburg, PennFuture’s  Senior Director for Energy and Climate, calls the initiative “both  historic and sorely needed as we work to combat climate change and  reduce our carbon footprint in Pennsylvania.”

“This power purchase  agreement will undoubtedly benefit Pennsylvania’s economy, environment  and its residents by combating climate change, reducing pollution, and  creating jobs while also insulating the Commonwealth from the rising  costs of fossil fuels,” says Altenburg.

Pennsylvania PULSE is expected to begin operation on January 1, 2023.