Climate watch: As federal climate action dominates headlines, what's happening in PA?
This column, however, will look at things happening in Pennsylvania — some good, some not — because with the firehose of federal news these items might otherwise be missed.
Renewables pass coal at PJM
In April, the PJM grid, which serves the mid-Atlantic states including Pennsylvania, saw renewable energy sources surpass coal in the production of electricity. Renewables created 11,800 megawatts of electricity while coal generated 11,700 megawatts. That's from an analysis provided by Allegheny Front. The surge in renewables was driven by solar which set three peak generation records for PJM last month on April 1, 16 and 17.
Pittsburgh Airport doubling solar
Pittsburgh International Airport has its own microgrid, powered by natural gas and solar. It pushes out 23 megawatts of power and saves the airport about a million dollars annually in utility costs. It also cuts carbon emissions by 6 million pounds each year. The airport recently announced that it will add 11,216 solar panels to the 10,000 it already employs, generating an additional 4.7 megawatts of power. Peak energy demand at the airport is about 14 megawatts. The airport sells the surplus back to the grid.
Crypto-Currency and fracking
A fracking-powered crypto-currency mine in Elk County has been abandoned in violation of Pennsylvania law, regulators say. In 2022 Alabama-based Diversified Energy turned on a gas well in Horton Township that had sat unused for over a decade. The well funneled gas into on-site generators powering crypto-currency mining supercomputers. After a little more than two years, the company packed up and left the well uncapped, the Department of Environmental Protection charges. Unplugged wells leak methane which stokes global warming. Pennsylvania has more abandoned gas wells than any other state.
Good news on Philly emissions
'Greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of Philadelphia's economy dropped 31% between 2006 and 2022, with a third of these reductions happening since the city's last inventory in 2019.' That's from a report by WHYY in Philly. A key reason: the sharp decline in the use of coal to make electricity. ' In contrast, greenhouse gas emissions across the U.S. fell just around 15% between 2006 and 2022.
PA school district goes solar
Steelton-Highspire School District in Dauphin County will save $3.6 million over 20 years by participating in a power purchase agreement for a 1.7-megawatt solar array. It covers 100 percent of the District's annual energy needs, according to an article in Canary Media. Steelton-Highspire also converted its school buses from diesel to electric. The District took advantage of federal rebates created by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Same stand, new fossil fuel
The coal-fired Homer City Generating Station in Indiana County closed in 2023. But another fossil fuel-burning plant is going to rise in its place. A new $10 billion methane gas-burning plant on the same site is expected to be up and running by 2027. Homer City Redevelopment LLC, backed by Knighthead Capital Management, plans a plant capable of generating 4.5 gigawatts of electricity. The company plans on locating energy-consuming data centers around the plant, declining to share more specifics with PublicSource.
Richard W. Jones is a member of the State College chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby. Reach the chapter at PAStateCollege@citizensclimatelobby.org .
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