Shapiro Administration Secures Nearly $2 Million for Renewable Energy Planning for Pennsylvania
09/13/2024
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has secured a $1.96 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop Pennsylvania-specific outreach and education materials to help communities build out clean, renewable energy projects.
“Pennsylvania has always been an energy leader and with outreach and education through this grant, we can help local governments find the right places and right kind of renewable energy for their communities,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Through the R-STEP program, DEP can help local communities identify the best places for wind and solar and engage with residents about possible projects.”
The R-STEP program aims to increase renewable energy development with more community buy-in and science-based siting for proposed projects. As the grant recipient, DEP along with a project team from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), Penn State Extension Energy Team, and Penn State Center for Energy Law and Policy will develop materials that help guide local governments — covering topics like state and federal permitting, community engagement, and local zoning.
“Fighting climate change and lowering energy costs with renewable energy takes leadership from every level of government – from the federal government to Commonwealth government down to county and municipal governments. We all have a role to play,” said Acting Secretary Shirley. “DEP and the project team have been working with local governments and will continue with this R-STEP grant.”
Since 2021, DEP has collaborated with the Pennsylvania R-STEP team, investing $270,000 from the State Energy Program (SEP) to provide training and technical assistance to local government officials on planning, siting, and permitting large-scale renewable energy projects. DEP has conducted 26 listening sessions, reaching over 650 officials across all regions of the Commonwealth. These county-level sessions have offered local government practitioners to the opportunity to ask questions about the development of large-scale solar projects and understand the necessary steps to ensure responsible and sustainable implementation.
Topics covered in these sessions include land use and zoning ordinances, site engineering and development, and decommissioning requirements, aiming to balance the concerns of landowners, neighboring property owners, and developers. This initiative also led to the development of the Municipal Officials’ Guide to Grid-Scale Solar Development in Pennsylvania. With the R-STEP award, DEP will be able to expand this effort to reach more Pennsylvania communities and residents.
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