Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  February 14, 2022

Philadelphia Energy Authority Adds Solar Programs

The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) will expand access to onsite renewable energy solutions for business, commercial and industrial properties throughout the city as part of its Solarize Philly Program.

EDPR NA DG was selected to be one of Solarize Philly’s partners focused on providing commercial, industrial, and real estate property owners full turnkey onsite energy solutions. The technology solutions offered will range from distributed solar to co-located storage, EV charging, microgrids, energy demand/energy resilience, and energy efficiency technologies. This will be the first year the Solarize Philly Program is open to retail, commercial, and industrial entities throughout Philadelphia.

The PEA has identified three core missions for the program:

• Identifying, supporting, and facilitating the most cost effective and environmentally sound opportunities for the City of Philadelphia to reduce energy use and expense;
• Promoting and assisting the development of alternative sources of energy and
• Educating Philadelphia’s consumers (including commercial and public sector audiences) regarding best practices and choices available to pursue common energy goals.

“Businesses are vital to the continued growth and development of Philadelphia,” said Emily Schapira, President & CEO of Philadelphia Energy Authority in a statement. “We’re excited for this collaboration with EDPR NA DG to reduce energy costs for our citizens’ businesses, support the community through the creation of good paying jobs to bolster the local solar industry, and assist our businesses in minimizing their carbon footprint.”

A key goal for PEA and the City of Philadelphia is achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050 and so far PEA has supported $167 million in clean energy projects. Another significant milestone made by PEA was its opening of the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp (PGCC), PEA’s green bank affiliate, on September 21, 2021. The PGCC provides low-cost financing options for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the Philadelphia region.

Solarize Philly was launched by PEA in 2017 and is Philadelphia’s first city-wide solarize program. With a goal of expanding the city’s onsite solar market, the Program aims to make the process of installing solar as easy and affordable as possible, while also supporting solar training at the School District of Philadelphia and improving access to clean energy across the City’s neighborhoods. Since the launch of the Program, more than $12 million has been invested in communities across Philadelphia.