Achieving Deep Carbon Reductions: Paths for Pennsylvania’s Electricity Future

To examine the efficacy of deep decarbonization as an option for Pennsylvania’s electricity future, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council is holding a conference to bring together prominent thought-leaders in clean energy and climate protection for an open and honest discussion around the challenges of deep decarbonization as a potential strategy for Pennsylvania. The event will start a conversation about whether deep decarbonization makes sense for our state and, if so, what will be the components of this strategy, and what policies and programs are needed to get there. While efforts will need to be made to decarbonize all sectors of the economy, including transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture, this event will focus primarily on deep decarbonization of the electricity sector, which accounts for 40% of Pennsylvania’s CO₂ emissions. We will explore activities in the following four areas: renewable energy, carbon capture and storage for fossil fuels, energy efficiency, and nuclear power.

Following the conference, PEC will produce a white paper with its recommendations for Pennsylvania’s electricity future. That document will serve as the basis of our work in this area, much as PEC did in 2010 with respect to unconventional shale gas development.