Gov. Wolf: PA GreenGov Initiative Lowers Commonwealth Energy Usage 12.3 Percent Over 3 Years

Governor Tom Wolf unveiled the Pennsylvania GreenGov Council 2021 Annual Report, marking additional progress within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s work to advertise sustainability and environmentally-friendly insurance policies.

Commonwealth companies and commissions underneath the governor’s jurisdiction decreased vitality utilization by 3.2 p.c in Fiscal Yr 2020-21. Within the three years because the first GreenGov Council report was revealed, commonwealth companies underneath the governor’s jurisdiction have decreased vitality utilization by 12.3 p.c for a financial savings of greater than $8 million.

“We should make each effort to scale back our vitality consumption,” Gov. Wolf mentioned. “It is a essential a part of defending the environment and protecting Pennsylvanians protected from the escalating risks of local weather change. My administration is driving change to assist a more healthy local weather and decrease prices for taxpayers.”

Local weather change impacts in Pennsylvania are actual and are already placing Pennsylvanians in danger. In recent times, excessive climate and pure disasters have turn out to be extra frequent and extra intense. Like many areas of the US, Pennsylvania is predicted to expertise increased temperatures, modifications in precipitation, and extra frequent excessive climate occasions and flooding due to local weather change within the coming many years. Pennsylvania’s economic system, well being and security, and high quality of life are depending on the cautious stewardship of our pure assets.

In 2019, Governor Wolf signed Government Order 2019-01 to ascertain Pennsylvania’s first local weather objectives, as a part of his technique to struggle local weather change and defend Pennsylvania from local weather risks. These objectives name for a statewide discount in internet greenhouse fuel emissions 26 p.c by 2025, with an additional 80 p.c discount by 2050 from 2005 ranges.

Gov. Wolf’s 2019 Government Order additionally established the PA GreenGov Council, which develops methods to assist state authorities scale back greenhouse fuel emissions.

The GreenGov Council’s objectives embody acquiring a minimum of 40 p.c of electrical energy from in-state clear vitality sources, lowering vitality use a minimum of 3 p.c yearly, changing 25 p.c of the state car fleet with electrical autos, and attaining vitality high-performance requirements in constructing building, lease or renovation.

“To fulfill our objectives, all of us have to work collectively,” Gov. Wolf mentioned. “We should take motion to guard Pennsylvania lives, properties, companies and communities from local weather change. The commonwealth is main by instance to make sure that vitality conservation and sustainability are built-in into all state company operations.”

PA GreenGov Council Director Mark Hand pointed to the latest replace of Administration Directive 720.05, Power Administration and Conservation in Commonwealth-Owned and Leased Services as one other method Pennsylvania is main the best way to include vitality consciousness into state operations by requiring each company to develop and implement an Company Sustainability Group.

“By means of the implementation of Company Sustainability Groups, we convey collectively people inside every company who’re passionate, artistic and devoted to advancing an energy-conscious tradition to assist every group establish new vitality applications and alternatives,” Hand mentioned. “The PA GreenGov Council will additional the constructive impact these groups could have by serving as a useful resource for technical help and assist whereas creating an atmosphere that lends itself to collaboration and data sharing all through state authorities.”

To fight the risks of local weather change throughout Pennsylvania, Gov​ernor Wolf has additionally unveiled a Local weather Motion Plan, introduced the most important authorities photo voltaic vitality dedication within the U.S., and brought motion to hitch the Regional Greenhouse Gasoline Initiative.

For extra data on the council, go to the PA GreenGov Council web site.