The State of Pennsylvania released a proposal July 7 including fifteen strategies for boosting in-state solar power to 10 percent of electric generation by 2030, for a total of 11 gigawatts.
The working group created by the Department of Environmental Protection set a target of 10 percent retail electric sales from in-state solar energy sources by 2030. The target was selected as “a level that could be achievable but would also challenge the business-as-usual model and allow for the development of a variety of strategies that could be pursued.” To meet such a goal, Pennsylvania would have to install about 11 gigawatts of solar energy, a significant increase from the roughly 300 megawatts currently installed in the state.
Five main strategies, incorporating both decentralized approaches (e.g., solar panels on homes) and larger, utility-grid-scale development, were analyzed:
• Increase the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard requirements for solar to 4-8 percent by 2030;
• Provide customers access to capital, including provision of loan guarantees;
• Adopt carbon pricing;
• Create uniform policies for siting and land use;
• Consider tax exemptions that encourage solar deployment and assist solar projects in finding project sponsors with tax equity.
Two alternate scenarios are proposed, “Solar A” and “Solar B”, with the difference being the amount of PV generation that is grid-connected versus distributed (35% distributed in Solar A vs 10% in Solar B).
Ten other strategies focusing on increasing either small, decentralized projects or grid-scale solar projects in Pennsylvania are also detailed.
Public comment on the plan closes August 20.