3/9 Clean Energy Team meeting notes

[Bill Sabey]

Thank you to those who attended and contributed to the discussions.

Here are the notes with links and the Zoom AI summary below.

Bill

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Quick recap

The meeting focused on clean energy advocacy in Pennsylvania, with participants discussing several key initiatives and challenges. The group explored a potential petition related to House Bill 1834, which aims to require 25% clean energy for data centers, though concerns were raised about the bill's current language including nuclear power under renewable energy. Participants discussed a recent solar project in State College that fell through due to changes in federal incentives, and reviewed a new virtual power plant bill. The team also addressed Governor Shapiro's "lightning plan" for clean energy, expressing concerns about his support for data center development and discussing whether Sierra Club should endorse him in the upcoming election. Additionally, the group discussed a solar mapping project for Southeast Pennsylvania municipalities and EACs, and addressed local concerns about data center impacts on water and air quality in specific communities.

Summary

Pennsylvania Clean Energy Petition

The group discussed a potential clean energy petition for Pennsylvania, which would be tied to House Bill 1834 regarding data center energy requirements. Kara explained that the petition would aim to encourage state senators to push for true renewable energy (wind and solar) rather than allowing nuclear power to be counted as clean energy under the bill. Nora mentioned a relevant webinar from Union of Concerned Scientists scheduled for Wednesday about powering data centers with clean energy sources like solar, wind, and battery storage.

Clean Energy and Grid Solutions

The group discussed several energy-related topics, including a webinar from the Union of Concerned Scientists about clean energy for data centers, which suggested going entirely clean rather than the current 25% requirement. Bill mentioned a new bill for virtual power plant programs that would allow homeowners with battery systems to contribute power to the grid during peak needs. Michael asked about Pennsylvania's wind energy capacity, to which Kara responded that while specific data wasn't available, there appears to be potential in western Pennsylvania based on visible wind power in neighboring West Virginia.

Pennsylvania Electricity Provider Options

The group discussed electricity providers and pricing in Pennsylvania, with Bill explaining the difference between PGM (the grid operator) and local utilities like PECO. Nora shared her experience using AEP as an alternative generation supplier, which provides Texas wind power at a lower cost than PECO and allows for fixed-rate contracts. Bill noted that some consumers have complained about being switched from fixed to variable rates without notice.

Clean Energy Advocacy Updates

The team discussed updates on clean energy initiatives, including a survey or petition and potential language to strengthen related bills. Jim suggested connecting the advocacy efforts to active legislation and proposed updating the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to align with other states' approaches. The group also noted an upcoming webinar on virtual power plants and highlighted ongoing Sierra Club tracking of relevant bills and legislation by Jen Quinn.

Solar Project Cancellation Discussion

The group discussed the cancellation of a 25-megawatt solar PPA project due to changes in federal rules regarding foreign solar panel suppliers and the loss of federal credits. Bill explained that solar projects starting in 2026 must meet new Foreign Entities of Concern requirements for panels from certain countries, potentially making the project unfeasible for the developer. The team also reviewed ongoing initiatives, including the Solar for Schools grant program and potential webinar topics about solar viability despite reduced federal incentives. The group discussed upcoming lobby days for renewable energy legislation on May 4th and May 28th, with the Sierra Club chapter planning to support the PennEnvironment event.

Solar Energy and Political Challenges

The group discussed two main topics: solar energy initiatives and political challenges regarding clean energy in Pennsylvania. Bill reported on a recent solar feasibility study conducted with 8-10 volunteers and the PA Solar Center, which analyzed 45 municipalities and 46 EACs in Southeast Pennsylvania. The team plans to draft communications to municipalities and EACs about solar benefits, aiming for potential installations by spring 2027 to qualify for 30% tax credits. The conversation then shifted to Governor Shapiro's approach to clean energy, with concern that Shapiro may not strongly advocate for the Lightning Plan due to political considerations and potential conflicts with labor interests and data center development. The group discussed the challenge of balancing environmental priorities with economic development, particularly regarding data centers, and considered whether environmental organizations should endorse Shapiro in the upcoming election.