Pennsylvania DEP Releases Final “Solar Future Plan”

Posted November 16th, 2018 by SRECTrade.

On November 15th, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released its final “Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Plan” which outlines strategies to increase solar powered generation in the state from 1% to 10% of total electric generation by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, the state would have to procure over 10 GW of solar capacity bringing statewide installed capacity from 350 MW to 11 GW.

The plan weighs the costs and benefits of two pathways to achieve their goal: having grid-supply solar represent either 65% or 90% of the total solar capacity. With the focus on job growth, land development, and cost of installment, the plan recognizes the higher costs associated with small distributed generation resources, but also projects more job growth and less land utilization. In either scenario, the DEP projects that 60,000 to 100,000 jobs would be created as a result of the Plan, with the 65% pathway creating jobs at the high end of that range.

Notably, with respect to distributed generation resources, the plan proposes an increase in the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) to between 4 and 8 percent by 2030, as well as a carbon pricing program, which would be used to fund renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.

SRECTrade will continue to monitor legislative activity in Pennsylvania as it relates to solar development and provide updates accordingly.

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