Renewable energy: A good idea that won’t go away | Climate Watch
Despite the collapse of the Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) that would have included 10 Centre County government organizations, renewable energy is a good idea that just won’t go away.
The SPPA dissolved — after six laborious years of planning — largely due to the axing of federal incentives for solar energy. The Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill contained poison pills for renewables. Still, it’s more than likely that some in the disbanding SPPA group will find financially workable ways to go solar on their own.
There’s no doubt that the OBBB is a barrier to “green” energy. Still the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that solar, wind and battery storage will add 62% more generating capacity this year than last. The national trend is mirrored by activities locally and statewide. For example:
UU Fellowship goes solar
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County in late December cut the ribbon on its new rooftop solar system at its building at 780 Waupelani Drive in Ferguson Township. The installation will completely offset the UU Fellowship’s annual electricity use. Support came from a 30% federal pay credit — secured before the strictures of the OBBB went into effect — and grants from West Penn Energy Funds and the Hammond Climate Solutions Solar Moonshot Program.
Solar array in Centre County
As first reported in this newspaper, the Centre County Commissioners signed on Feb. 24 a memorandum of understanding for a solar development on abandoned strip mine lands. The 908-acre, 162-megawatt solar facility would be built by MPG Solar on land in Burnside and Snow Shoe townships. Construction could start in November, with a completion date for late 2028.
UPMC-Coudersport going green
Construction will begin this year on a 5.5 megawatt solar project that will supply most of the electrical needs of the UPMC-Cole medical complex in Coudersport, Potter County. The solar array is expected to begin producing energy in early 2027.
Plug-in solar movement grows
Now 28 states, including Pennsylvania, have introduced legislation to authorize plug-in solar. “These DIY kits let consumers put solar panels wherever they fit — a backyard, a balcony — and plug them into a standard outdoor outlet to send energy into their home,” reports Canary Media. They are capped at 1,200 watts and can knock off a couple of hundred dollars a year from the home electric bill. So far only bright red Republican Utah has passed a law authorizing them. But passage appears likely in New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey and Illinois. Democratic State Rep. Paul Takac of College Township is a co-sponsor of Pennsylvania’s bill, which is HB 1971.
Reinstate clean energy incentives?
And finally, Pennsylvania GOP Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County plans to introduce legislation to reinstate solar and wind incentives that Republicans axed last year. Fitzpatrick was one of only two House Republicans to vote against last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill which ended the clean energy subsidies for homeowners and renters. Fitzpatrick told E&E News that he’s not worried about President Trump’s hostility toward clean energy. “We need to change that position,” he said. “Because I think he’s getting bad advice on this.”
Richard W. Jones is a volunteer with the State College chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Reach the chapter at PaStateCollege@citizensclimatelobby.org.