Solar Energy

The plan includes several energy initiatives and a summary of targets. The city has a goal to purchase and generate 20% of electricity from alternative energy sources -- they are currently at 12.2% (p. 2).

The City has reduced municipal energy use by 4.9% since 2009. Two solar projects contributed to that reduction: solar thermal hot water heating at correctional facilities and on-site solar generation at a wastewater treatment plant (p. 6).

The plan includes information for residents, including a statistics that solar hot water systems can reduce water heating bills 50 to 80%. It also discusses the state Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard which requires utilities to purchase or generate 0.5% of their electricity from solar power by 2021. As of 2012, there are at least 153 solar installations with a total capacity of 3.8 MW operating citywide. They boast the most solar installations of any county in the Commonwealth of PA and surpassed the city goal of 2.3MW by 2011 (p. 17).

The plan discusses changes made in the zoning code and the guidebooks that were developed. It also talks about how state regulations have been affecting efforts at the city level (p. 17).

The plan also details some of the benefits a neighborhood organization has experienced with solar (p. 18).

The City also details its existing solar projects and projects underway including an array on a WTP (p. 18).