PRESS RELEASE
Clean Power PA Coalition Applauds Governor Wolf for Executive Action to Move to a Clean Energy Future
Wolf commits PA to achieve Paris climate reduction targets, improve state energy practices
Harrisburg (January 8, 2019) – The Clean Power PA Coalition applauds Governor Wolf’s executive action to tackle climate change.
Governor Wolf today signed an executive order that sets Pennsylvania up to be a leader in our growing clean energy economy by:
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Reducing overall energy consumption by 3 percent per year, and 21 percent by 2025, as compared to 2017 levels.
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Replacing 25 percent of the state passenger car fleet with battery electric and plug-in electric hybrid cars by 2025.
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Procuring renewable energy to offset at least 40 percent of the commonwealth’s annual electricity use.
We are encouraged by the governor’s willingness to lead on these issues and work with the legislature to develop required policy measures to achieve greenhouse gas targets and renewable energy generation. In addition, immediate implementation of improved fuel efficiency standards for state-owned vehicles and the adoption green building standards for state buildings will instantaneously impact the Commonwealth’s carbon emissions.
Governor Wolf’s moves today build on a series of legislation that he signed last year designed to create jobs and increase Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness in the growing clean energy sectors. Legislation that reformed Pennsylvania’s solar energy sector to stimulate jobs, extended low-interest financing for energy efficiency projects and modernized the state’s electricity rates passed the General Assembly with large bipartisan majorities.
Leaders in the state’s environmental community hailed the move.
“Building on his recent announcement to join the Transportation Climate Initiative, today’s executive action by Governor Wolf makes it clear that Pennsylvania will not sit on the sidelines of the struggle to confront climate change, but will take real, meaningful steps to move the Commonwealth toward a clean energy economy,” said Joanne Kilgour, State Director of the Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Chapter. “We look forward to working with Governor Wolf in achieving these ambitious emissions reductions targets.”
“Governor Wolf’s action today represents a good next step in positioning Pennsylvania as a leader in the effort to curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” said Joe Minott, Executive Director and Chief Counsel of the Clean Air Council. “Now, it’s up to the governor to follow up on these actions with concrete additional steps that move us toward meeting these new emissions goals.”
“The governor’s moves pave the way for future reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the state,” said Matt Stepp, Vice President of PennFuture. “We now call on the legislature to work with the governor on achieving the longer-term emissions targets we need to achieve to head off the worst impacts of climate change.”
Members of the green building community also applauded Governor Wolf’s action, particularly the concrete steps his administration is taking to upgrade buildings the state owns and leases.
“Governor Wolf’s decision to adopt clean energy and energy efficiency practices for state agencies will benefit all Pennsylvanians by saving taxpayers’ money, creating jobs, and building a healthier region,” said Jenna Cramer, Executive Director of Green Building Alliance. “It also sets a higher standard for the entire building and transportation sectors.”
“Governor Wolf’s executive action builds off of recent legislative advances that promote energy efficiency initiatives that make Pennsylvania more competitive,” said Alex Dews, Executive Director of Green Building United. “Last year, Governor Wolf signed into law bipartisan legislation adopting both modern building codes, which improve energy efficiency 30% in new construction, as well as the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program, which provides low-interest financing for businesses to adopt energy efficiency improvements. Today’s action ensures that the public sector remains a leader in advancing energy efficiency.”
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.4 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us atwww.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.
The Clean Power PA Coalition is a group of clean energy, business, faith, and community leaders committed to protecting Pennsylvania’s environment and powering its economy through clean energy. The coalition includes the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), PennFuture, Clean Air Council, Moms Clean Air Force, Penn Environment, NextGen Climate America, Conservation Voters of PA, Clean Water Action, Voces Verdes, Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Audubon Pennsylvania, Physicians for Social Responsibility-Philadelphia , Climate Parents, Partnership for Policy Integrity, Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light, Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, Sustainable Pittsburgh and Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2).
For more information, visit www.cleanpowerpa.org