A Clean Energy Pathway for Southwestern PA

A new report from Strategen and the Ohio River Valley Institute charts a clean energy pathway for Southwestern Pennsylvania. The pathway cuts harmful, climate-warming emissions, creates lasting job growth, and lowers costs for families.

Here’s how it works:

Curb harmful, highly polluting fossil fuels.

The Clean Energy Pathway eliminates all coal energy and most natural gas energy in the region by 2050 cutting our power grid’s planet-warming CO2 emissions by 97% and saving nearly $2.7 billion per year in environmental and
health costs.

Invest in renewable energy, like wind, solar, and hydropower.

Southwestern Pennsylvania has high potential for wind and hydropower energy and with renewable energy cheaper than ever, it’s the most effective way to minimize our region’s
carbon footprint.

Electrify cars, trucks, and buildings.

Heating our homes and powering our vehicles with renewable energy further reduces CO2 emissions. It also saves the region an additional $1.5 billion in environmental and health benefits.

Man and child charging an electric vehicle.

Make our homes, stores, and workplaces more energy efficient.

Energy efficiency improvements—things like installing insulation, updating appliances, and repairing HVAC systems—cut down on energy use and save families money on their utility bills. They will also create 15,000 local, family-sustaining jobs by 2050.

Share renewable resources with the region.

Nearby states also have great potential for wind, solar, and hydropower energy. Sharing resources allows us all to reduce our carbon output.

The oil and gas industry wants our region to double down on dirty fossil fuels—just so they can maintain their bottom line.

Here’s why a clean energy pathway is better for Pennsylvanians.

It’s cheaper for Pennsylvania families.

The fossil fuel industry wants to use natural gas and carbon capture technology to make blue hydrogen. The problem? The technologies are enormously expensive, and Pennsylvania families would be left to cover the check via rate hikes or tax increases. Research shows the oil and gas industry’s plan could cost Pennsylvania families upwards of $1,000 per year.

It does a better job of lowering emissions.

More natural gas means more emissions. The fossil fuel industry’s plan to use natural gas and carbon capture is a big step backward for the climate and the environment. A clean energy pathway would allow the region to meet or surpass our climate goals.

It creates more jobs.

Data show the natural gas industry hasn’t actually generated job growth in the Ohio River Valley since the beginning of the fracking boom. Doubling down on more gas production is a dead end. Renewable energy and energy efficiency investments are proven job creators.