Pennsylvania
State Scorecard Rank
21
Pennsylvania
18.5Scored out of 50Updated 12/2022
State Government
Score: 3 out of 4.5
State Government Summary List All
The state invests in efficiency projects several grant, loan, and financing programs. The state government leads by example by setting energy requirements for public buildings and encouraging the use of energy savings performance contracts. Research focused on energy efficiency takes place at several institutions in the state.
Financial Incentives List All
The state of Pennsylvania offers the following financial incentives to encourage energy efficiency improvements:
- Alternative and Clean Energy Program: The Alternative and Clean Energy Program provides financial assistance in the form of grant and loan funds that will be used by eligible applicants for the utilization, development, and construction of alternative and clean energy projects, infrastructure associated with compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas fueling stations, and energy efficiency and energy conservation projects in the state.
- Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Finance Program (PennSEF): Administered by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department in partnership with the Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment, this program provides technical and legal assistance, as well as low-cost capital, for energy improvement projects by municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals. Participants will also receive free energy audits from ESCOs. The program receives financial support from the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund.
- Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG): Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, this program offers funding for clean, alternative fuel transportation projects in Pennsylvania's energy sector.
- High Performance Building Incentives Program: The High Performance Building Program provides financial assistance in the forms of grants and loan funds to underwrite the cost premiums associated with the design and construction or major renovation of high performance buildings in the state.
- Small Business Advantage Grant Program: The Small Business Advantage Grant provides 50% matching grants, up to a maximum of $5,000 to enable Pennsylvania small businesses to purchase energy efficient or pollution prevention equipment, or adopt waste reduction processes.
- Green Energy Loan Fund: The Pennsylvania Green Energy Loan Fund (GELF) provides financing for energy efficiency retrofits and the installation of energy conservation measures and high-performance energy systems in buildings throughout Pennsylvania. GELF is managed by The Reinvestment Fund and is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Department of Energy. Borrowers eligible for a GELF loan include for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, local governments, multifamily residential, and industrial companies. Homeowner are not eligible for a GELF loan. The type of financing provided includes construction loans, term loans and lease financing. Loans will range between approximately $100,000 and $2,500,000.
- Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account Loan Program: The Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA) provides low-interest, fixed-rate loans to small businesses undertaking projects which reduce waste, pollution or energy use. This funding can help small businesses comply with environmental regulations while benefiting from the economic benefits of preventing pollution or waste, or becoming energy efficient. The program is a collaboration between the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
- Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA): An independent public financing authority that was created in 1982 by the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority and Emergency Powers Act and that was revitalized through an April 8, 2004, Executive Order. The authority's mission is to finance clean, advanced energy projects in Pennsylvania, including solar energy, wind, low-impact hydropower, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, fuel cells, integrated gasification combined cycle, waste coal, coal-mine methane, and demand management projects. The authority presently can award grants, loans, and loan guarantees. Tax-exempt and taxable bond financing for clean, advanced energy projects also are available through the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA). PEDFA did not allocate any funds in the past year.
Further financial incentive information can be found in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE Pennsylvania). In addition to these state-funded incentives, Pennsylvania has enabled commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing and has two active programs. For additional information on PACE, visit PACENation.
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Equity Metrics and Workforce DevelopmentList All
In 2020, PADEP’s Energy Programs Office (EPO) worked closely with its Office of Environmental Justice to arrange a series of in-person and virtual education sessions with several organizations throughout the state on the 2018 PA Climate Action Plan (CAP). The purpose was not only to educate those organizations on the 2018 CAP but also to gather their feedback on the document, so as to better inform the development of our next statewide CAP. It was the first bilingual presentation that DEP provided. Later in the year, DEP staff developed a fact sheet in Spanish on PA’s anticipated participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. One of the training webinars provided as part of EPO’s Local Climate Action Program (LCAP) in January 2020 focused on “Community Engagement and Equity.” Twenty local governments in PA participated in LCAP, as well as numerous college students, from January – June 2020. Beginning in August 2020, a new cohort of 21 local governments and college students began the LCAP training & technical assistance program. Of the 41 local governments participating in LCAP in calendar year 2020, 32 of them contain at least one census block group that meets DEP’s EJ community criteria. DEP considers a community an EJ area if 20 percent or more individuals live in poverty, and/or 30 percent or more population are residents of color as defined by the US Census. All of these communities are encouraged during the training webinar below to engage their EJ communities in climate action planning.
Workforce Development
DEP worked with BW Research Partnership to deliver Pennsylvania-specific reports that will help determine the future direction of energy workforce development activities. This included a Pennsylvania Clean Energy Employment 2020 Report (PACEER) and a Pennsylvania Energy Employment 2020 Report (PAEER). These reports were based on data that BW collected as part of its US Energy and Employment Report. These reports were released in summer 2020, and new 2021 reports will be released in summer 2021. The PACEER highlighted employment in the major clean energy sectors and also included workforce data such as demographics and employer hiring difficulties, revenue or wage data, and other customized data points. The PAEER contained information on job growth over time and employer hiring projections in all energy technology sectors, not just clean energy. The Energy Programs Office and BW released a follow-on report in May 2021 to identify training needs and gaps in Pennsylvania for clean energy jobs. The findings of this report have informed conversations between DEP, the PA Department of Labor and Industry, and the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Last Reviewed: July 2021
Building Energy Disclosure List All
Pennsylvania passed an Executive Order (EO 2019-01) in January 2019, requiring benchmarking for public buildings over 20,000 square feet.
Last Reviewed: August 2019
Public Building Requirements List All
Pennsylvania passed an Executive Order (EO 2019-01) in January 2019, requiring state-owned and occupied facilities to reduce energy consumption by 3% per year, and 21% by 2025 from 2017 levels.
EO 2019-01 also requires benchmarking for public buildings over 20k square feet. Additionally, the EO requires any new building construction project, build-to-suit leased building, or renovation project by a Commonwealth agency that costs more than 50% of the replacement cost of the building, where the design of the project commences after the effective date of the EO, shall be designed and constructed as a high-performance building that achieves a 10% reduction in energy consumption over ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1.2016. Furthermore, the EO states that agencies "may seek US Green Building Council LEED certification, Green Building Initiative Green Globe rating, or a comparable numeric rating from another accredited sustainable building certification program where appropriate."
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Fleets List All
Executive Order 2019-01 sets a goal of 990 electric or plug-in electric hybrid vehicles to be introduced to the fleet by 2025 (25% of passenger cars). Progress toward meeting this target can be viewed on pages 11-12 of the PA GreenGov Council 2021 Annual Report. The PA DGS has instituted a driving tracking system (telematics) in their state vehicles. This system can track individual driving habits and locations. It is the expectation that this system will curtail unofficial usage/mileage and could identify inefficient drivers.
Last Reviewed: June 2022
Energy Savings Performance Contracting List All
In 1998, the Pennsylvania legislature passed the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (Act 57), amended by Act 77 in 2004 and Act 39 in 2010. The act allows local governments, schools, and other agencies to receive state funding to enter into guaranteed energy savings contracts without the formal bid process. Act 57 of 1998, Act 77 of 2004, and Act 39 of 2010 are amendments to Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in guaranteed energy savings contracts, further providing for definitions, for contracting procedures and for contract provisions.
Last Reviewed: July 2020
Research & Development List All
The Energy Research Center (ERC) at Lehigh University is a multidisciplinary research group with major emphasis on research dealing with energy conversion, power generation, and environmental control. Research within the Center is supported by contracts and grants from government and industry. The Center has particularly close ties with industry, with a significant number of joint research projects involving Lehigh faculty, staff, and students and staff from private industry. The Center also operates the Energy Liaison Program, which provides consultation and problem-solving assistance to participating companies for up to $20,000 a year.
The Indoor Environment Center (IEC) at the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment conducts interdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer, and outreach activities to support the development of indoor environments that are more safe, more thermally, visually, and acoustically comfortable, and that minimize the use of energy and other resources.
The Consortium for Building Energy Innovation (CBEI) is located at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. CBEI is comprised of 14 organizations including major research universities, global industrial firms, and national laboratories from across the United States who collaborate to develop and demonstrate solutions for 50% energy reduction in existing buildings by 2030. CBEI is a research and demonstration center that works in close partnership with DOE's Building Technologies Office.
In addition, several state-funded financial incentives encourage research activities. The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority requires a research component directly related to each project, and the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) funds innovative research projects including electric vehicles and fuel cells. As one of the largest unregulated electric distribution systems on the East Coast, the Navy Yard at Penn State provides a unique test bed for new technologies. The Scott Institute supports Carnegie Mellon University strategic energy research and innovation through faculty funding, strategic partnerships and investments.
Last Reviewed: July 2019
Buildings
Score: 5 out of 12
Buildings Summary List All
Residential buildings must comply with the 2015 IECC, while commercial buildings must comply with the 2015 IECC, with reference to ASHRAE 90.1-2013. The state has completed a gap analysis and offers code training and outreach.
Residential Codes List All
Pennsylvania adopted the 2018 IECC, which went into effect on February 14, 2022.
Last reviewed: June 2022
Commercial Code List All
Pennsylvania adopted the 2018 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 - 2016 (with some amendments), effective February 14, 2022. In June 2018, Philadelphia City adopted the 2018 International Building Code for commercial construction.
Last reviewed: June 2022
Compliance List All
- Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: The Building Codes Assistance Project completed a gap analysis in 2012. The Pennsylvania Energy Code Collaborative (PECC) met to further define best practices and recommendations and produced a compliance plan. In 2015, the Northeastern Energy Efficiency Partnership started facilitating the PECC and came up with a vision and goals for 2015 - 2020. The PECC group is currently working on tasks that support the vision and goals that include a state-specific plan with practical near- and long-term actions.
- Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Performance Systems Development (PSD) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to implement a residential energy code compliance study in Pennsylvania as a part of the eight-state Residential Energy Code Field Study. This study was performed in 2014-2015 with a follow-up evaluation in 2017. The report on this study is available here. This project received financial and in-kind support from PECO and PPL electric utilities.
- Utility Involvement: The electric distribution companies require code compliance for any of their Act 129 (financial incentive) programs. Additionally, under Act 129, EDCs will only get credit for codes initiatives if they are supporting projects that go above and beyond code standards because the standards are viewed as the baseline, regardless if they are currently being met.
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: The Pennsylvania Energy Code Collaborative meets four times per year. The Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee meets at least six times per year.
- Training/Outreach: The Pennsylvania Code Construction Academy provided trainings on residential and commercial 2015 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 - 2010. Additionally, they provided webinars and circuit rider trainings. These trainings are new, since PA adopted the 2019 I-Code in October 2018. The intended audience is residential energy plan reviewers and inspectors, but is appropriate for builders, design professionals, and other industry professionals. Additionally, duct and envelope testing training is made available as well as specialized circuit rider trainings.
Last reviewed: June 2022
CHP
CHP Summary List All
CHP is included as an eligible resource within the state's alternative portfolio standard and CHP deployment is encouraged through additional policies and technical assistance efforts. The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission issued a CHP policy statement in 2018 encouraging utilities to make CHP an integral part of their energy efficiency & resilience plans, design interconnection and standby rates, and promote the consideration of special natural gas rates for owners and operators of CHP facilities. One new CHP system was installed in Pennsylvania in 2018.
Interconnection StandardsList All
Policy: Pennsylvania Administrative Code Title 52, Chapter 75, Subchapter C
Description: Pennsylvania, in accordance with its Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004, adopted interconnection standards for DG, including CHP, in August 2006. The standards cover four different tiers of interconnection, up to 5 MW in size. Specific technical screens and timelines are associated with each level of interconnection. Pennsylvania’s standards were based upon the model interconnection standards promulgated by the Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative Working Group, and also adhere to the technical standards delineated in the IEEE 1547 interconnection standards.
In October 2016, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issued an final order amending interconnection rules that reflected a number of adjustments, including raising the size-limit on customer generation capacity.
Last Updated: July 2018
Encouraging CHP as a ResourceList All
CHP in energy efficiency standards: CHP is an eligible resource under Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS). The standard was adopted in 2004 and then amended in 2007 and requires all electric distribution companies and retail electric generation suppliers to ensure that 18% of their electricity is derived from alternative energy resources by 2020. The standard divides these requirements into three tiers to develop a compliance schedule to gradually reach the 18% goal. CHP is part of Tier II, which must comprise 10% of the total electricity supply by 2020. The other 8% is to be comprised of renewable resources.
Revenue streams: CHP systems are eligible to receive production incentives (per kWh) through Pennsylvania’s AEPS, which provides compliance credits that are based on production. Also, some major utilities in Pennsylvania, including PECO, First Energy and PPL, offer performance incentives for CHP to their customer base in their respective territories. These utility-run program offerings provide financial incentives to commercial and industrial customers that employ CHP to reduce their energy consumption and demand usage.
Last Updated: July 2018
Deployment IncentivesList All
Incentives, grants, or financing: CHP systems may have access to state grants and loans through the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) and Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Alternative Clean Energy (ACE) Program.
Net metering: Net metering rules apply to CHP in Pennsylvania. The PUC adopted net-metering rules and interconnection standards for net-metered systems and other forms of DG in 2006, pursuant to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Act of 2004. In 2007, H.B. 1203 amended the Pennsylvania AEPS and also expanded net metering. Revised rules consistent with these amendments were adopted by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC), effective November 29, 2008 (PUC Omitted Rulemaking Order, Docket L-00050174).
In Pennsylvania, investor-owned utilities must offer net metering to residential customers that generate electricity with systems up to 50 kilowatts (kW) in capacity; nonresidential customers with systems up to three megawatts (MW) in capacity; and customers with systems greater than 3 MW but no more than 5 MW who make their systems available to the grid during emergencies. Net metering is available when any portion of the electricity generated is used to offset on-site consumption (i.e., system size is not limited by the customer's on-site load). Systems eligible for net metering include those that generate electricity using combined heat and power (CHP) technologies.
Last Updated: July 2018
Additional Supportive PoliciesList All
Some additional supportive policies exist in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission and other entities are working toward the promotion of CHP through a CHP policy statement published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on April 5, 2018. The main purpose is to encourage Electricity Distribution Companies (EDCs) and Natural Gas Distribution Companies (NGDCs) to: make CHP an integral part of their energy efficiency and resiliency plans, design interconnection and standby rates, and promote the consideration of special natural gas rates, for owners and operators of CHP facilities. EDCs will be required to report on their CHP activities.
In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection partnered with the Penn State University Mid-Atlantic CHP TAP at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia to conduct a pilot microgrid demonstration project that integrates CHP and renewable energy. The project will of share lessons learned, provide technical assistance to others in the state, and act as a demonstration site for the U.S. DOE’s Grid Modernization program. Efforts to develop a “CHP-Enabled Renewable Energy Guide” are also underway.
The state also encourages the use of renewable-fueled CHP systems through its AEPS, which recognizes renewable CHP as eligible as a Tier I resource.
Last Updated: July 2018
Utilities
Score: 4.5 out of 15
Utilities Summary List All
Pennsylvania utilities have significantly expanded energy efficiency program offerings in recent years since the enactment of the state’s EERS in 2008 (Act 129), with oversight by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Pennsylvania Act 129 required each of the seven major electric distribution companies (EDCs) to procure cost-effective energy efficiency and to develop energy efficiency and conservation plans to reduce electricity consumption by a minimum 1% by 2011, increasing to a total of 3% by 2013, and to reduce peak demand by 4.5% by 2013. In August 2012, the Pennsylvania PUC issued an implementation order for Phase II of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Program, establishing electricity savings targets for each EDC over the 3-year period from FY2014-2016. The targets amounted to an average of 2.3% cumulative savings over the 3-year period; no incremental annual targets were established. Phase III targets set 5-year cumulative targets of 5,710,487 MWh, equivalent to about 0.77% incremental savings per year through 2021.
On June 11, 2015, the Commission adopted additional incremental reductions in consumption for a Phase III of the Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program. Phase III began on June 1, 2016, and will end on May 31, 2021. Phase III requires a cumulative average savings of approximately 3.7% (range of 2.6% to 5.0%) from EE and also includes a DR requirement with average annual savings of 425 MW. (See pages 35 and 57 of the implementation order, Docket #M 2014-2424864, for details on DR and EE, respectively).
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
For further reading, in May 2009, as part of the State Clean Energy Resource Project, ACEEE completed the report Potential for Energy Efficiency, Demand Response, and Onsite Solar Energy in Pennsylvania.
Customer Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Pennsylvania utilities have significantly expanded energy efficiency program offerings in recent years since the enactment of the state’s EERS established by Act 129 in 2008. In accordance with this law, each electric distribution company filed an energy efficiency and conservation (EEC) plan with the PUC in July 2009. Plans submitted by each company explain how energy reductions are to be met, including a contract with a conservation service provider, and provide for energy efficiency measures for low-income households. The PUC may approve, reject, or modify the plans.
Under Act 129, the electric distribution companies’ energy efficiency and conservation plans propose a cost-recovery tariff mechanism to fund the energy efficiency and conservation measures and to ensure recovery of reasonable costs. The utilities can also recover the costs through a reconcilable adjustment mechanism.
There are additional EE programs for natural gas customers of PGW (Phila. Gas Works), UGI North, and UGI South, as well as UGI Electric. All of these programs' offerings are voluntary but approved by the PUC. UGI Electric is one of four small EDCs that are below the threshold for compliance with Act 129 (EERS) but which were encouraged to adopt voluntary programs for their customers. Additionally, PA has 13 rural electric cooperatives and several smaller municipalities that are not regulated by the Commission. The rural electric cooperatives do offer some electric efficiency programs/incentives.
In 2016, the Commission approved a rate case for UGI Utilities and as part of that settlement approved UGI Utilities plans to implement a natural gas EE&C program for its approximately 390,000 customers. That plan became effective in calendar year 2017.
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
Last reviewed: July 2019
Energy Efficiency as a Resource List All
Under October 2008 legislation, the PUC must implement programs that encourage conservation and efficiency by every major rate class. Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) includes energy efficiency as an eligible resource.
Last reviewed: June 2020
Energy Efficiency Resource Standards List All
Electric: Varying targets have been set for IOUs amounting to yearly statewide incremental savings of 0.8% savings for 2016-2020. EERS includes peak demand targets. Energy efficiency measures may not exceed an established cost-cap.
On June 11, 2015, the Commission adopted additional incremental reductions in consumption for a Phase III of the Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program. Phase III began on June 1, 2016, and will end on May 31, 2021. Phase III requires a cumulative average savings of approximately 3.7% (range of 2.6% to 5.0%) from energy efficiency and also includes a DR requirement with average annual savings of 425 MW. (See pages 35 and 57 of the implementation order, Docket #M 2014-2424864, for details on DR and EE, respectively).
Pennsylvania has no natural gas EERS although three natural gas distribution companies have submitted voluntary Energy Efficiency & Conservation (EE&C) plans.
Last reviewed: June 2020
Utility Business Model List All
There is currently no policy in place that rewards successful energy efficiency programs with performance incentives.
Please see the Alternative Ratemaking Final Policy Statement at Docket No. M-2015-2518883. It provides the opportunity for the PUC to consider EDC plan filings that would decouple profits from sales, and allow for alternative methods of cost-recovery including incentives based on program performance. As of December 2020, no utilities have adopted revenue decoupling or other alternative ratemaking mechanisms under this rule.
Last reviewed: December 2020
Evaluation, Measurement, & Verification List All
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Primary cost-effectiveness test(s) used: total resource cost test
The evaluation of ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs in Pennsylvania relies on both legislative mandates and regulatory orders. The order follows the legislation. Evaluations are mainly administered by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, but there are no specific legal requirements for these evaluations in Pennsylvania. Evaluations are conducted for each of the utilities. The rules for benefit-cost tests are stated in M-2009-2108601. The state uses a Technical Reference Manual to measure and verify applicable energy efficiency measures.
According to the Database of State Efficiency Screening Practices (DSESP), Pennsylvania specifies the total resource cost test (TRC) as its primary test for decision making. A benefit-cost test is required for portfolio level screening.
The non-energy benefit of participant productivity is accounted for in Pennsylvania’s TRC. The primary test also monetizes the value of avoided water, gas, oil, and propane. Although the commission does not favor general percentage-based adders, they believe it is important to quantify the savings associated with water and fossil fuel savings. The commission decided not to include non-electric benefits such as participant asset value, economic well-being, comfort, health and safety, satisfaction in Pennsylvania’s primary test. The commission also decided not to account for societal costs, environmental costs, non-energy impacts, or other non-electric elements such as environmental, public health, economic development and jobs, or energy security in the TRC.
Further information on cost-effectiveness screening practices for Pennsylvania is available in the Database of State Efficiency Screening Practices (DSESP), a resource of the National Efficiency Screening Project (NESP).
Last Updated: August 2019
Guidelines for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Requirements for State and Utility Support of Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
In June 2015, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) issued an implementation order for Phase III of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Program, setting five-year cumulative targets of 5.7 million MWh, equivalent to about 0.8% of incremental savings per year through 2021. The order also requires each utility to obtain a minimum of 5.5% of their total consumption reduction target from the low-income sector.
In addition, utilities coordinate Act 129 low-income energy efficiency programs with the Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP). LIURP is a statewide, utility-sponsored usage-reduction program mandated by the Electric and Gas Choice Competition Act at 66 Pa.C.S.A. 2803 for electric and 2202 for gas, as part of the Universal Service Programs required for those customers who are at or below 150% of the Federal Income Poverty Guidelines. Details are available in each years’ Universal Service Report on the PUC website.
Cost-Effectiveness Rules for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
In Order M-2015-2468992, the PUC specifies 2016 total resource cost test requirements. Pennsylvania relies on the total resource cost (TRC) test and considers it to be its primary cost-effectiveness test. A benefit-cost test is required for portfolio-level screening. The commission requires that the electric distribution companies provide benefit and cost data for both low-income and estimated non-low-income residential program savings in their annual reports and that TRC Tests be calculated for all low-income programs and all residential programs. However, the Commission does not require a separate PA TRC test calculation for the low-income sector, as separate PA TRC tests are not required for any other customer sector.
Coordination of Ratepayer-Funded Low-Income Programs with WAP Services
The PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has a Weatherization Policy Advisory Council, of which the PUC is a voting member. There is a Coordination Committee, formed in 2012, that is charged with the specific task of coordinating the WAP program with LIURP and the Act 129 Low-Income Programs. There is a 2016 MOU that was put into place between DCED and the PUC to facilitate data sharing between all the agencies’ weatherization programs, but this MOU has not been posted or made publicly available.
Last reviewed: June 2020
Self Direct and Opt-Out Programs List All
There are no self-direct or opt-out provisions in place.
Last reviewed: June 2020
Data AccessList All
Guidelines for Third party access
66 Pa.C.S. § 2807(f)(3) requires those electric distribution companies with smart meter requirements to "...with customer consent, make available direct meter access and electronic access to customer meter data to third parties, including electric generation suppliers and providers of conservation and load management services." The PA Public Utility Commission is currently reviewing, through its Electronic Data Exchange Working Group, standards and functionalities for the provision of such data to third parties.
Requirements for Provision of Energy Use Data
With a September 3, 2015 Final Order in Docket No. M-2009-2092655 the Commission adopted a framework established by the Electronic Data Exchange Working Group and directed electric utilities to establish secure web portals that can be used by entities working for utilities or licensed suppliers to obtain customer meter data.
Last reviewed: July 2019
Transportation
Score: 5.5 out of 13
Transportation Summary List All
The state has a comprehensive set of policies to encourage efficient transportation systems, including tailpipe emissions standards, a dedicated revenue stream for transit projects, complete streets legislation, and incentives for high efficiency vehicles.
Tailpipe Emission Standards List All
Pennsylvania adopted California’s Low Emission Vehicle Program in 1998 for light-duty vehicles as a backstop measure for the National Low Emission Vehicle Program. The California standards went into effect in 2006 in Pennsylvania, effective for model years 2008 and later, which contributed to a 30% reduction in average new vehicle greenhouse gas emissions from 2002 levels by 2016. Federal greenhouse gas standards for model years 2012 through 2025 were harmonized with California's standards. Newer California standards along with federal standards originally applied to model year vehicles 2017 through 2025, however these were rolled back by the federal Safer Affordable Fuel Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Act in 2020.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Transportation System Efficiency List All
Transportation and Land use Integration: The state planning statute does not mandate or authorize smart growth measures like Oregon's urban growth boundaries, or Florida's concurrency requirement, or the smart growth investment areas Maryland had for a time. But research reports have touted several Pennsylvania initiatives as smart growth – brownfields reuse program, farmland preservation program, Growing Greener programs, and the cooperative multi-municipal planning enabled by the state planning code.
PA does not mandate integration of transportation and land use planning, but provides publications and staff TA promoting it, and PennDOT has provided UPWP and special projects funding for corridor planning and other efforts to better coordinate/integrate planning. PennDOT issued a policy, titled PennDOT Connects, in December 2016. This policy was incorporated into PennDOT’s design manuals in 2018. PennDOT Connects is PennDOT’s policy commitment to collaborative planning in the transportation planning process. PennDOT Connects requires collaboration with Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations staff and local government planners/staff on all proposed projects during planning. Collaboration provides the opportunity for details unique to communities, including current and planned land use considerations, to be identified and discussed for each project in planning, prior to developing project scopes and cost estimates.
VMT Targets: In January 2019 Governor Tom Wolf issued Executive Order 2019-01 Commonwealth Leadership in Addressing Climate Change and Promoting Energy Conservation and Sustainable Governance. The executive order directs state agencies to evaluate opportunities to reduce vehicle miles traveled. Additionally, Pennsylvania has committed to partner with the Transportation Climate Initiative and potentially cap and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector.
FAST Freight Plans and Goals: In August of 2016, PennDOT's first Comprehensive Freight Movement Plan was submitted to FHWA. The plan does not include a modal balance target, nor does it include energy efficiency performance measures for freight. The Comprehensive Freight Movement Plan includes a range of Focus Areas related to Energy Efficiency. Several examples of these Focus Areas include:
• Focus on improving truck bottleneck locations
• Prepare for connected and autonomous vehicles and new technologies
• Address access and mobility issues for all modes, including intermodal connectivity
• Prioritize and enhance intermodal connections (“first and last mile”)
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Transit Funding List All
In 2007, the Pennsylvania legislature passed Act 44 that created a Public Transportation Trust Fund which is funded from sales tax, PA Turnpike funding, other use taxes and fees that are not constitutionally protected for highway funding.
Additionally, in 2013, Act 89 was passed that changed the funding allocations. The legislation can be found here.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Equitable Access to TransportationList All
Pennsylvania does not have any state programs in place to incentivize the creation of low-income housing near transit facilities, nor does it consider the proximity of transit facilities when distributing federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to qualifying property owners.
Last Updated: November 2022