News – Pennsylvania

It was a beautiful spring day in Berwyn! In addition to engaging with families that came out for this wonderful event, we got to chat with leaders in the PA climate action community.

Improving the environment with Regenerative Agriculture

blake — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 18:10:51 +0000

By N. Margolis

Houses were shut tight, and cloth wedged around doors and windows, but the dust came in so thinly that it could not be seen in the air, and it settled like pollen on the chairs and tables, on the dishes. – John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

Farming practices have thankfully improved since the Dust Bowl days when the topsoil flew and the land, the community, and human lives were destroyed. Nearly 100 years later, though, we’re seeing similar climate catastrophes: floods, droughts, hurricanes, heatwaves, fires, and even brimstone. Curbing carbon emissions to slow climate change is key to planetary survival.

Agriculture is a major contributor to those carbon emissions, pollution, and climate change. According to the EPA, 10% of US carbon emissions come from agriculture. Pesticides and fertilizers pollute our land, streams and rivers, and they harm people as well. We use up our limited water resources to sustain our farms. Conversely, agriculture is needed to feed the world and has the potential to improve the health and welfare of our citizens.

In Pennsylvania, agriculture is a critical industry that affects us every day. According to a recent PA Dept. of Agriculture report, the industry employs over a half million Pennsylvanians (10% of the jobs in PA) and generates $132.5 billion to our state’s economy annually. But PA agriculture is also a source of carbon emissions. In addition to its impact on greenhouse gasses, it’s the largest contributor to nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

What if we could have our produce and eat it too? Are there ways to improve agriculture so that it could feed people healthy food AND improve the health of our planet? Regenerative agriculture may be part of the answer.

What is regenerative agriculture? Regenerative agriculture is a set of farming practices that improves the environment by taking steps to improve the health of the soil, conserve water, and increase biodiversity. Practices include planting cover crops, rotating diverse and native crops, avoiding unnecessary soil tillage, creating buffers of trees and vegetation at the edge of farmlands, and reducing or eliminating fertilizers and pesticides in ways similar to organic farming.

Soil improvement is measured by topsoil growth, soil carbon levels, and increased water absorption and retention. As soil health improves, it’s able to capture and hold more carbon, reducing the impact of carbon emissions and helping to mitigate climate change. Increased water retention allows farmers to conserve water while reducing harmful runoff. The latter is especially important when combined with the reduction of chemicals on our farms. Finally, increasing the diversity of crops is key to farm resilience, and it protects the land and vegetation from extreme weather events and disease. Taken in total, regenerative agriculture leads to healthier farms and helps in the battle against climate change and environmental pollution.

If regenerative agriculture is such a game-changer, why isn’t it more widely used? Probably for the same reasons we don’t all have electric vehicles and solar-powered houses: it costs farmers time and money to make the transition. New equipment and education are required to embrace regenerative agriculture.

Even after making the change, regenerative agriculture can be more labor-intensive than conventional farming. Weed and pest control require more manual effort than spraying herbicides and pesticides. The changes needed may be hard to scale and require commitment to combating climate change and producing healthy foods.

What can I do right now? Find and support your local farmers who use regenerative practices! Find out where your food comes from. Visit your local farmer’s markets and talk to the vendors. Where we shop and what we eat has an outsized impact on human health, the environment, and climate change.

In 100 years, will our descendants look back at the climate crisis and see how we changed its dire trajectory as we did in the Dust Bowl era, or will they wonder why we didn’t do enough to save the planet?

stateimpact.npr.org: Josh Shapiro proposes state climate program to replace RGGI, and asks for new renewable energy goals

blake — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:25:45 +0000

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at a news conference at the United Association Local 524 union building in Scranton, Pa., on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Shapiro announced he would back legislation to make power plant owners in Pennsylvania pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and require utilities in the nation’s third-biggest power-producer to buy more electricity from renewable sources. (AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam)

“Pennsylvania has fallen woefully behind in clean energy development to the detriment of our air, water, and climate. The introduction of PRESS is such an important step that will begin to put Pennsylvania back on track to meeting our climate and clean energy goals and is a critical complement to a robust cap and invest program for climate pollution from the power sector. This package isn’t perfect and still includes some dirtier energy sources, but we can’t wait for perfection.” — Tom Schuster, chapter director of Sierra Club Pennsylvania

From StateImpact: Instead of RGGI, Governor Shapiro says he wants to create a Pennsylvania-specific program to cap carbon emissions and make power plants pay to pollute, called the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) Initiative.

The governor also has proposed a Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) that increases the share of clean energy to 35% by 2035 and restructures the classes of incentivized energy into three tiers:

Tier I sources are solar, wind, low-impact hydropower, geothermal, small modular nuclear reactors, nuclear fusion technology, and fugitive emissions from coal mines and landfills. These would make up the 35% clean energy goal.

Tier II includes large-scale hydropower, natural gas or coal co-fired with 80% clean hydrogen, fuel cells, and biomass energy. This tier would start at 6% and rise to 10% by 2033.

The new Tier III includes waste coal, natural gas or coal co-fired with 20% clean hydrogen, and municipal solid waste. This tier starts at 3.8% and grows to 5% by 2032 under the plan.

Bloomberg: Gov. Shapiro Calls On Biden To Keep Pause On Permits For New LNG Gas Export Facilities Short

blake — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 19:29:19 +0000

In addition to Senators Casey and Fetterman, our governor is also pushing back against the Biden administration’s pause on permits for new LNG export terminals.
“It’s my hope that that pause is limited and that their focus of whatever analysis they’re going to do is centered around making sure we create jobs in the energy space in Pennsylvania.” — Gov. Josh Shapiro

Third Act PA Newsletter – February 2024

blake — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 19:11:37 +0000

Our February newsletter has news about a PA community solar bill, our action with Third Act OHIO against the Mountain Valley Pipeline, summaries from our working groups, a terrific review of Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future, a tutorial on getting your friends to LIKE/FOLLOW our FB page and more.

“People’s Energy Plan” Pushes Public Utility Commission for More Renewable Energy

blake — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 19:10:14 +0000

Third Act PA’s Democratize Energy group is working with POWER Interfaith in Philadelphia to push the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) to be part of our much-needed shift to renewable energy. POWER aims to put the “Public” back into the Public Utility Commission, which regulates our electric and gas utilities. Through the spring, we will be calling on the PUC to require PECO (and eventually other utilities statewide) to purchase long-term energy contracts for a maximal amount of renewable energy. Our allies at POWER wrote this article to outline the plan. Please email us ThirdActPA@gmail.com to be part of this action.

By POWER Interfaith

The People’s Energy Plan challenges PECO – and our state regulator, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) – to make a rapid shift away from fossil fuels to affordable clean energy. We demand transparency and democracy in how that energy is supplied.

Why does this matter?

The energy we depend on must be safe for the communities and workers who produce it – and affordable for all who use it – and safe for our lands, waters, air, and climate.

All across southeastern PA, we all – Black, Brown, White – well-off or struggling – want clean air to breathe, water that’s safe to drink, and communities where we can thrive. We all deserve a voice in shaping the decisions that affect our communities. But PECO and our state government are stuck in dependency on fossil fuels that pollute the air in our kids’ lungs and the water in their cups. By pitting our health against our pocketbooks, PECO is trying to divide our communities, and to distract us from its failure to lead us toward a future powered by clean energy. Our communities are increasingly suffering floods, heat waves, and intense storms. We need safe, clean, locally made energy for us and for the next generation.

Who are we?

POWER Interfaith is made up of over 250 congregations in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, in the Lehigh Valley and in Lancaster, growing into a statewide organizing movement for economic and racial justice on a livable planet. POWER’s Climate Justice and Jobs team holds a vision of energy democracy grounded in affordability, renewability, fair labor, and health and safety for all of us. We’ve enlisted legal and technical experts to support our grassroots leaders.

What’s our strategy?

The People’s Energy Plan aims to change the way PECO buys the electricity they sell to us.

Every four years, PECO proposes for PUC approval a plan for how PECO intends to buy electricity they will sell to us. The electricity they buy could come from solar, wind, burning gas, or other sources. PECO’s plan affects the majority of households in our region – including all low-income households who get energy assistance.

Public Utility Commissions in other states have required the local utilities they oversee to accelerate their transition to green energy. Our team decided to accept the challenge of bringing a real alternative. It is time for our energy leaders in Pennsylvania to step up to the needs of these times!

What is the People’s Energy Plan?

The People’s Energy Plan has identified three steps that PECO and the PUC can take in the plan PECO will propose in 2024 to build a sustainable future for everyone in southeastern PA.

Fix the Mix. When PECO buys the electricity they sell to us, they accept only short-term contracts, because fossil fuel prices are constantly changing. These short-sighted negotiations, however, have long-term costs. Renewable energy doesn’t suffer from the wild price swings we’ve seen in natural gas the past couple years. With long-term contracts, solar and wind are cheaper than burning fossil fuels. PECO’s insistence on short-term contracts creates a market that artificially favors fossil fuels. PECO needs to end this artificial barrier to affordable renewable energy. We need PECO’s 2024 procurement plan to be a downpayment on the larger goal of 100% renewable energy for all in our region.
Democratize Energy. PECO must open up its procurement planning process and meet with stakeholders. The energy PECO provides (and the grid it maintains) must serve the needs of the region for affordable clean energy, protect our climate, and build resilience for the climate disruption we already face.
Lead, Don’t Follow. PECO must be a leader in the Philadelphia area’s clean energy future and commit to securing affordable clean energy for Philadelphia and southeast Pennsylvania. Stop “passing the buck” to the government to enforce action. Stop ignoring the costs to our health and communities. The longer PECO delays taking action on climate change, the more it will cost – both in dollars and in lives. PECO needs to act NOW.

What’s next?

In January, POWER will share the People’s Energy Plan with PECO in time for them to incorporate the three steps for a clean energy future into their 2024 Default Service Plan (DSP). In early 2024, POWER will meet with PUC commissioners to build relationships at the commission. In June, POWER members will testify at the PUC public hearings regarding PECO’s 2024 DSP. In October, the PUC will vote to accept or reject PECO’s DSP.

Learn more and get involved at https://powerinterfaith.org/campaigns/climate-justice/

All in for Community Solar Bill

blake — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 18:25:55 +0000

Feb 14 legislative hearing in Harrisburg

By E. Hoffman

After a decade of trying, advocates hope this will be the year Pennsylvania passes legislation to allow community solar.

Third Act PA was among those submitting testimony in favor of HB1842, which would allow community solar in our state. (Here are links to the written testimony, including Third Act PA’s, and to a recording of the hearing of the House Consumer Protection, Utility, and Technology Committee.) Supporters include nonprofits, labor organizations, industry, farmers and other landowners, as well as lawmakers from both parties.

“In a nutshell, what we are hoping to accomplish is to democratize … access to owning [electricity] generation,” said Peter Schweyer (D-Allentown), the bill’s sponsor.

Elowyn Corby, the Mid-Atlantic Region director for Vote Solar, was optimistic after the hearing. “This committee hearing was a strong indication that the community solar ship is seaworthy, and that there’s a growing wind behind its sails,” she said in an email.

Several lawmakers and advocates expressed a sense of urgency, both because Pennsylvania is “behind the 8 ball” and because of funding available for community solar in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Rooftop solar is out of reach for many Pennsylvanians, either because of cost, roof orientation or because they are renters. Community solar, though, allows anyone to get the benefits of solar energy without putting panels on the roof. Instead, residents and businesses can become members of a local solar energy project that adds renewable energy to the electricity grid. Subscribers still pay their utility company, but they get credits for a share of the solar energy added to the grid, typically saving 5%-15% on their bill.

Community solar is allowed and even encouraged in 22 states and the District of Columbia. All but six states have at least one community solar project. Pennsylvania is among the outliers.

During her testimony, Elizabeth Van Holt, the new markets director of the Coalition for Community Solar Access, called community solar the “sweet spot” between individual rooftop solar and utility-scale solar. It can be installed, for example, on commercial rooftops, brownfields and underutilized farmland.

Trade unions were also enthusiastic. Even as they embraced an all-of-the-above approach to energy, they were all in on community solar.

“We’re waaaay behind on clean energy,” said Robert Bair, secretary of the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council. “To not take this bill up is going to continue to set Pennsylvania back. We need a balanced portfolio. We also need to start a real commitment to renewables.”

The beauty of community solar, he said, is that it can ramp up quickly while benefitting every county: “This is not a Democratic bill or a Republican bill. …This is a Pennsylvania bill.” He spoke of a “dual crisis” related to energy and the environment. “We’re going to be short on power in about 2028,” he said. “And we need to start fixing the environment. … You cannot deny climate change anymore, and this is a good bill.”

“Our position is community solar is going to create jobs for existing members and it’s going to allow us to compete for the next generation of workers,” said Alfred “Buddy” Franklin, recording secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Union #5.

A Penn State study of community solar found that Pennsylvania would attract $1.8 billion in economic benefits, realize annual subscriber savings of $31 million, and create 12,000 jobs, said Leslie Elder, vice president of political and regulatory affairs for Summit Ridge Energy. One of her company’s clients is a fourth-generation farmer whose land straddles Pennsylvania and Maryland. He installed a community solar project on the Maryland side and would like to do the same on his Pennsylvania farm.

Representative Aaron D. Kaufer (R, Luzerne County) said he had been a sponsor of community solar for the last three sessions. “I’m really excited for the progress we’ve made for what I hope will be a vote out of this committee,” he said.

“When we have a hearing on the bill, that means we’re interested in moving a bill,” said committee chair Robert F. Matzie (D, Beaver County), adding that he hopes to get community solar legislation “across the finish line” in the House before adjourning in June.