COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR CLEAN ENERGY
Local Government
Local governments can influence the energy-related choices that the community makes by: Leading by example; Educating constituents about options and the impacts of energy choices; Incentivizing preferred choices; Planning for a low-carbon future with vision, goals and timelined actions; Requiring new construction consistent with the community's goals; Providing enabling infrastructure that promotes a low-carbon electric community; Being sensitive to any short term financial impacts this transition might create.
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This page provides resources for local governments to continue their role as climate action leaders.
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Programs in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. Also resources from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)
Resources to help local governments share reliable information about energy, transportation, lighting, heating and expected impacts
On The Horizon
A few things that other states have done and might be available to us in Pennsylvania in the future
EACs
Environmental Advisory Committees (EACs) are often tasked with recommending actions for the municipal government and community engagement
Federal Funding
Retrofits or new construction. Heat pump HVAC, Smart Thermostats, occupied sensor lighting, on-site/rooftop solar, energy audits.
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Visit the Tax Exempt page for Building Upgrade funding.
Elective-Pay is available for weatherization, energy efficiency upgrades, HVAC upgrades, solar installations, the purchase of electric vehicles, etc. to entities that do not pay taxes.
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Municipal vehicles, police, fire, snow removal, yard or street vehicles, trash. EV charging stations and infrastructure. ​The following grant is available to municipalities that have 3 or more class 6 or 7 trucks:
Pennsylvania Programs
The following resources and programs are available from the PA Department of Environmental Protection:
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PA Climate Change Advisory Committee
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​Municipal Opportunities for Retrofits and Energy Efficiency (MORE) Program - a financing program to support local governments to cost-effectively deploy energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
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​Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant (AFIG) funding for clean, alternative fuel projects such as replacing diesel vehicles with electric vehicles, and installing charging infrastructure.
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Driving PA Forward - L2 Chargers - no funds remaining
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Growing Greener Program - farmland/open space preservation, watershed restoration, trails, upgrading water & sewer systems
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​Shared Energy Manager - for municipal facilities energy use
County Resources & Programs
Plan Development Assistance
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PA DEP Local Climate Action Plan (LCAP) - matching local college students with municipal CAP projects
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​CAP development professionals - used or considered in southeastern PA
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Clean Energy Strategic Planning Series - EAC cohort explored aspects of a community Energy Transition Plan
Climate Action & Energy Transition Plans
Many municipalities have developed a Climate Action Plan (CAP) or Energy Transition Plan (ETP) for their communities. Often this responsibility is given to an Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) or a professional planner is contracted or college students are engaged as part of the Local Climate Action Plan (LCAP) program run by the PA DEP.
This section is designed to share examples, templates, training session recordings so that your community doesn't need to start at ground-zero for this climate or energy planning project.
Plan Examples
PACleanEnergy.com hosts a wiki of Climate and Energy Action Plans across PA. Below is a snapshot.
Plan Templates
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Energy Transition Plan Template
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Comprehensive CAP Template
Enabling Policy
Very few township or borough elected officials are interested in mandating climate actions, but influencing buying decisions can take place through enabling policies and projects. Like helping to make EV charging more accessible, or reducing the permitting costs and timelines for on-site solar projects, or requesting that new construction consider future owners that want to install EV chargers or rooftop solar or passive solar aspects.
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Here is a growing list of examples in southeast PA and nearby.
Community Education
Here are some resources for community education about the impacts of climate change, clean energy, electrification, building energy efficiency and similar topics.
Impacts of Climate Change
What is Climate Change? - PA DEP - How is climate change affecting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and what can we do about it? Story Map
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​Adapting to Extreme Heat in Philadelphia - UPenn
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Climate Change Impacts Assessment- PA - DEP​
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Community Climate Outlook for Chester County, PA - Penn State
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Climate Action Plan Metrics Show Greenhouse Gas Reductions - Chester County Planning​
Clean Energy and Electrification
A Stakeholders Guide to Electrification - US Dep of Energy
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​100% Clean Electricity by 2035 Study - National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
Building Efficiency
LEED Case Study - City of Philadelphia - USGBC
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Why Efficiency Matters - US Dep of Energy - Homes and commercial buildings consume 40% of the energy used in the United States. Of the $2,000 the average American spends paying for energy annually, $200 to $400 could be going to waste from drafts, air leaks around openings, and outdated heating and cooling systems.
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Contacts on the CACE team, Robin Mann, Shawn Smolsky