Community Energy Inc./Exelon 
Somerset Wind Farm in Somerset, PA


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green and Clean


The Green and Clean section provides information about renewable energy, how the PUC is helping to promote and encourage renewable energy development in PA, and a link to the Office of Consumer Advocate’s website where consumers can find out more information about choosing a “green supplier”. Consumers also can find out information about air pollution from power plants, fuel source and renewable portfolio standards. Other areas highlighted on this page include:    

Renewable Energy
Which suppliers use renewable energy?
Some suppliers use renewable resources to generate electricity by a mix of sources, or only one source, such as wind. Suppliers should be able to tell you the percent of renewable resources that is part of their generation. You may find out more about renewable resources from the Clean Air Council by calling (215) 567-4004, ext. 236.

The Office of Consumer Advocate has information on electricity products available in your territory, including pricing and renewable energy content information

PUC Renewable Energy Press Releases
Press Release - PA PUC Chairman Glen Thomas Says PA State Government Leads by Example by Purchasing Green Energy, Shopping for Power (12/5/01)

Press Release - PA PUC Commissioner Fitzpatrick Unveils Largest Solar Electric Power Plant in Western PA that Further Secures PA’s Leadership for Green Energy ( 10/30/02)

Press Release - PA PUC Chairman Glen Thomas Dedicates Wind Farms that Secure PA’s Status as East Coast Leader for Wind Energy, Nation’s Leader for Electric Choice (10/24/01)


Sustainable Energy Funds
What are the Sustainable Energy Funds?
The electric utility industry restructuring process in Pennsylvania brought together various stakeholders, including consumer groups, industrial customers, environmental parties, and others interested participants (joint petitioners). These groups contributed to the development of the restructuring agreements for GPU Energy (GPU), PECO Energy (PECO), PP&L (PPL), and Allegheny Power/West Penn Power Company (WP). These collaborative processes resulted in Pennsylvania’s restructured energy market providing new opportunities for renewable and sustainable energy production services and enterprises.

Each of the four settlement agreements included a provision establishing a separate and independent sustainable energy fund (regional funds) to promote:
  • The development and use of renewable energy and clean energy technologies;
  • Energy conservation and energy efficiency;
  • Renewable energy business initiatives; and
  • Projects that improve the environment in the Companies’ service territories, related to the transmission and distribution facilities (GPU).

Regional Activities

Funding
Each of the above-referenced companies’ restructuring settlements provides for the establishment of sustainable energy funds to foster environmental and economic development initiatives in Pennsylvania by setting aside funds (approximately $55 million from the four funds combined) to promote development of sustainable and renewable energy technologies.

In addition, another $18.5 million was placed into the PECO sustainable energy fund ($12 million for wind development, $4 million for PV development, and $2.5 million for consumer education) over a 5-year period as a result of the PECO/Unicom merger.

Last summer, the Commission approved the merger of GPU Energy and First Energy. As a result of the merger settlement process, the two GPU funds will receive an additional $10 million ($5 million each) toward their Sustainable Energy Funds. The current Sustainable Energy Fund totals approximately $83.5 million.

Regional Board Administration
The settlements provide a general level of guidance, but do not present specific information on how to implement the provisions that established the regional funds.

Each fund is managed by a seven-member board, initially nominated by the Joint Petitioners, and approved by the Commission. The directors were selected by the Joint Petitioners to represent a cross-section of interests – financial community, consumers, environmental interests, business & industry, EDCs and EGSs. Each fund has by-laws that address the responsibilities and powers of the Board and their Fund Administrators. The by-laws also outline how projects will be selected and the funds’ investment strategies. The by-laws of each fund were approved by the Commission.

The regional boards meet on a regular basis and Commission staff attends meetings as liaison representatives. Regional boards are required to submit annual and semi-annual reports to the Commission on the activities, expenditures, and investment of the board.

The regional funds have selected their own investment strategies but have coordinated some of their efforts.


Fund Administrators
Fund administrators include:
  • The Sustainable Development Fund of the Reinvestment Fund (PECO Energy),
  • Berks County Community Foundation (GPU - Met Ed),
  • Community Foundation of the Alleghenies (GPU - Penelec),
    Both GPU administrators operate under the same funding approach and guidelines.
  • The Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania (PPL),
  • Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County (Allegheny Power).
Company Name Website Contact Name Address
       
PECO Energy Service Territory - Sustainable Development Fund http://www.trfund.com/ Rob Sanders
Fund Manager
Phone: (215) 925-1130
Fax: (215) 923-4764		 The Reinvestment Fund
Cast Iron Bldg - Ste 300 N
718 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
PPL Service Territory - Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania   Thomas J. Tuffey
Executive Director
Phone: (610) 740-3182 x482
Fax: (610) 740-9511		 PPL Sustainable Energy Fund
The Sovereign Building
609 Hamilton Mall
Allentown, PA 18101
GPU Service Territory - Sustainable Energy Fund
Metropolitan Edison		 http://www.bccf.org/
(See Grants & Programs)		 Rick Mappin
VP for Grantmaking
Phone: (610) 685-2223
Fax: (610) 685-2240		 Berks County Foundation
PO Box 212
Reading, PA 19603-0212
GPU Service Territory -
Penelec		 http://www.cfalleghenies.org/ Michael Kane
Executive Director
Phone: (814) 536-7741
Fax: (814) 536-5859		 Community Foundation for the Alleghenies
216 Franklin St - Suite 606
Johnstown, PA 15901
Allegheny Power - Sustainable Energy Fund http://www.wppsef.org/ John Skiavo
Phone: (724) 830-3604
Fax: (724) 850-3974		 Economic Growth 
Connection of Westmoreland County
450 S Main Street - Suite 6
Greensburg, PA 15601
Allegheny Power - Sustainable Energy Fund http://www.wppsef.org/ Joel L. Morrison
Phone: (814) 865-4802
Fax: (814) 863-7432		 The Energy Institute
Pennsylvania State Univ.
C-211 Coal Utilization Lab
University Park, PA 16802
       

Statewide Activities
Order - By Commission order in May 1999 (Docket No. R-00973953), a statewide board was created to "provide oversight, guidance and technical assistance to the regional boards."

Statewide coordination of the four regional funds is essential to establish Pennsylvania as a leader in renewable energy technologies. The successful operation of these initiatives requires a partnership between the regions and the state. The Commission’s intent is to have the statewide board operate in conjunction with the regional boards to identify potential opportunities, prioritize the funds’ objectives and develop an outreach plan to gain further support for the initiatives. Financial assistance and guidance is an important function of the statewide board in order to sustain the funds into the future.

The working title for the statewide oversight board is the Sustainable Energy Board of Pennsylvania (PASEB). The statewide board consists of representatives with diverse expertise to guarantee that adequate technical and leveraging assistance is provided. The board is comprised of a representative from each of the regional boards as well as representatives of the Public Utility Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Office of Consumer Advocate and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

To date, the PASEB has not been formally organized; however, representatives of the statewide board met on several occasions in 1999 and 2000.



Low Income Renewable Energy Pilot Program
The Low Income Renewable Pilot Program (LIRPP) is designed to help low-income consumers manage their energy use and to lower their electricity bills by using solar panels or solar hot water heaters. Another objective of the LIRPP is to assess the feasibility of expanding renewable energy measures in the future. Currently, 3 EDCs -Allegheny Power, GPU Energy, and PPL Electric are working with certified installers and community based organizations to install 200 projects in 2002. PECO Energy’s LIRPP ran from 1999 - 2001, completing 215 projects.

Low Income Renewable Energy Program Contacts
If you have a question about the Low Income Renewable Pilot Program (LIRPP) for Met-Ed or Penelec (formerly GPU), PPL and APS, please contact the Utility Choice webmaster. 


Fuel Source Information and Power Plant Emissions
How can I find out information about air emissions from power plants?
E-Grid, a database developed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, integrates more than 20 federal databases, provides power plant emissions data for nitrogen oxide (NOx - smog contributor and acid rain precursor), sulfur dioxide (SO2,- acid rain precursor), particulate matter (PM - responsible for respiratory problems, haze issues) carbon dioxide (CO2,- global warming gas), and mercury (Hg- water toxicity). The database can be used for: fuel source information, analysis of changing power markets, development of Renewable Portfolio Standards, catalog of utility emission profiles, and emissions standards.

Download E-GRID.

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