Commercial, Sourcing Renewables  -  May 19, 2020

Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium members go green with 100% RE

Members of the Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium (WPEC) will soon be receiving clean power and Green-e Certified RECs to offset 100% of their energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

WPEC is expected to save its members a combined total of $500,000 in energy costs and increase their renewable energy supply from 35 to 100%. This new initiative will allow the City of Pittsburgh to meet its renewable electricity goals for its facilities for the next year. 

One recipient of the green energy offered through this 12-month agreement, which WPEC completed with Direct Energy, is the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. 

"As a proud partner of the Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is honored to take this proactive step to offset our carbon footprint and help to educate our local community about economical and sustainable energy programs within our region," CFO Jackie Vincunas said in a statement.

James Stitt, Sustainability Manager for Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, added: "An enormous amount of energy is required to filter and distribute water throughout the City. As stewards of one of the most valuable resources on the planet, PWSA is driven to protect our source waters now and far into the future. By using our purchasing power as part of the WPEC to support green energy initiatives, we can help to ensure not just cleaner water, but a better environment and be on a path towards the attainment of our 2030 sustainability goals."