LEWISBERRY, PA — Pennsylvania has reached a major clean energy milestone, surpassing 2 gigawatts of installed solar power capacity—enough to supply electricity to roughly 350,000 homes. The announcement came just 17 months after the state crossed the 1-gigawatt threshold, signaling accelerated adoption of solar energy across the Commonwealth.
State officials from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) gathered at Gifford Pinchot State Park’s Quaker Race Day Use Area to commemorate the achievement. The site features a 342-kilowatt solar array that provides shade for picnic areas and parking while generating power for park operations.
DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley highlighted the milestone as a tangible result of Governor Josh Shapiro’s Lightning Plan, an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy designed to create jobs, lower consumer costs, and transition the state toward cleaner energy sources. “This is a momentous milestone,” said Shirley. “Putting more solar power onto the grid is part of Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan.”
The DCNR plans to power all its facilities with renewable energy by 2030, with solar playing a central role in reaching that goal. “This park uses clean energy from the sun and provides shade for cars in the parking area, modeling a practical way we can take climate action and serve visitors,” said DCNR Deputy Secretary Mike Walsh.
The Lightning Plan projects long-term economic and environmental gains, including the creation or protection of over 15,000 jobs, consumer savings of more than $660 million by 2040, and $11 billion in clean energy investments. The administration’s proposed updates to the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard—rebranded as the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS)—aim to further boost renewable energy’s role in the state’s power grid.
Additional initiatives under consideration include Community Energy projects that allow groups to jointly invest in local renewable installations and a cap-and-invest framework called the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) program. PACER would cap carbon emissions and redistribute 70% of the proceeds to residents as rebates on their electricity bills.
As the DEP celebrates its 30th anniversary, officials emphasized a continued focus on collaboration with communities, businesses, and organizations to safeguard the state’s natural resources and improve public health through cleaner energy solutions.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.