Today’s the day. Give a salute to clean energy!

As we celebrate our nation's 239^th birthday with pool parties and picnics this weekend, let's not forget that it takes energy to cool our houses and grill our holiday food.

Show your civic pride this Fourth of July and declare your energy independence by donating to PennFuture so we can continue to push for more renewable, homegrown energy and a brighter future for our state!

Pennsylvania has long been an energy innovator. It's essential that we continue to lead as we build a clean energy economy to restore our environment and provide a sustainable future for our kids. PennFuture's job is to work with policymakers across the state and the nation to shape public policy and make Pennsylvania a leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Our educational campaigns convinced large institutions, businesses, and individual consumers to go green and be sustainable.

Will you help us continue to fight for more renewable energy?

Three generous donors have agreed to match a total of $5,000 in gifts for our campaign to push for more renewable energy. Your gift will be matched dollar for dollar and your support will really make a difference.

Renewable energy is projected to make up 10 percent of U.S. energy consumption in the next year, but in Pennsylvania, renewable energy makes up only 4 percent of our total energy consumed. Meanwhile, our neighbors in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware continue to deploy more renewable energy — and have more renewable energy jobs than Pennsylvania.

We know we can do better. PennFuture will continue to work tirelessly for more clean energy in Pennsylvania. Like the Founding Fathers, we're not just sitting around. We're pushing forward to make our state a leader in clean energy to create jobs, improve air quality, and reduce our dependence on foreign energy supplies.

America has been the land of innovation for almost two and a half centuries. We plan to continue that tradition by making bold strides in clean energy production right here in Pennsylvania.

Declare your independence! Salute clean energy and support PennFuture with your tax-deductible donation today!

Mary Kane is development associate for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg.

Allegheny SolarFest 2015

This weekend, when the sun is at its furthest point from the equator, us folks in the northern hemisphere will enjoy the longest day of the year.

More sunlight equals more time to spend in the beautiful outdoors and that's cause for celebration: Join us for the annual Allegheny SolarFest, this Saturday at Millvale Riverfront Park.

At this free, family-friendly event, you’ll be able to learn about solar initiatives in western PA and enjoy fun activities for the whole family. From electric cars and bikes to a rock climbing wall, they'll have it all. There will also be live music, food trucks, and local craft beer to keep you entertained throughout the day.

Swing by Allegheny SolarFest, rain or shine, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. this Saturday, June 20. Attendance is free but please register. And did we mention that the entire event will be powered by solar? How cool is that?!

Nicole Catino is Penn Future’s 2015 Student Conservation Association Green Cities Sustainability Fellow and is based in Pittsburgh.

C'mon, hop to it! Come to PennFuture On Tap!

Please join us for a great night of good beer and tasty food at our premiere PennFuture on Tap* event.

We'll host this fundraiser at Yards Brewery Company, the first brewery in Pennsylvania to be  completely powered by wind, from 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 19. 

Support local sustainable businesses and PennFuture when you purchase your tickets on our secure website and then watch our tagline -- Every environmental victory grows the economy -- come to life at this unique event venue. 

Pennsylvania's growing craft brewery industry -- ranked fourth in the U.S. by the Brewers Association -- contributes $2 billion annually to our economy and provides over 20,000 Pennsylvania jobs.

To make all that beer, the brewing industry needs lots of clean air and clean water. That's where we come in: PennFuture works hard every day to protect these resources for all of us. And that's where you come in: To help PennFuture continue this work, we need YOU and your support!

Our special guest will be Philadelphia Water Department Commissioner Howard Neukrug, a national leader in urban sustainability and the creator of Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters program. Alongside Commissioner Neukrug's leadership, the Philadelphia Water Department provides clean drinking water and integrated wastewater and stormwater services for more than 2.3 million people.

Please join us. Learn something new. Enjoy an open bar with Yards' Revolution and Signature Ales. Sample food from Guerilla Ultima Food Truck. Take a brewery tour and bid on something wonderful in the silent auction.

Sponsorships are available. For more information on that, email Susanne Whitehead at whitehead@pennfuture.org.

Don't miss this hopportunity (last pun, promise) to support PennFuture -- and have a great time while you do it! Buy your tickets today!

*Must be 21 years old to participate.

Mary Kane is development associate for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg.
 

Earth Day + Clean Energy = One Great Event

Last week, PennFuture and Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) co-sponsored a roundtable for business leaders in northwest Philadelphia to hear from speakers on federal, state, and local policies related to clean energy and climate and why business leaders should get involved. The takeaway? A clean energy future is good for the economy and the environment.

Attendees heard from a slate of speakers, each bringing a different perspective to the table. Alice Tong and Bob Keefe of E2 welcomed the attendees and gave an overview of the work their organization is doing in Pennsylvania, highlighting a clean energy jobs report they jointly released with the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA.) The report identifies highlights from the clean energy industry and opportunities for growth. (There are currently 57,000 clean energy jobs in Pennsylvania and additional jobs can be created if the state takes action to improve Pennsylvania’s national energy efficiency ranking from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).)

Speaker Rich Freeh from Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability addressed our clean energy economy from the local perspective. Currently, over 60 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions come from building energy usage. The city of Philadelphia’s energy benchmarking program is raising awareness about building energy usage by having buildings of 50,000 or more square feet disclose their energy use in a standardized database, the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. This database allows building managers to look at their energy use relative to comparable buildings to help identify areas for energy use reduction and, as a result, generate cost savings and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Alex Dews of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council discussed energy efficiency – aka energy we don’t need to produce – as the cheapest, cleanest energy resource available and a viable option for creating jobs. He highlighted that we should not only be looking at ways to make new buildings as efficient as possible, but also be thinking about ways that we can make energy efficiency improvements to buildings that have been built in the recent past and will be around for decades to come.  

PennFuture’s policy director, Matt Stepp, gave a comprehensive overview of the Clean Power Plan and its potential positive effects on Pennsylvania. Stepp noted that with the planned retiring of coal-fired power plants across the state, Pennsylvania is on track to reach half of its carbon reduction goals as specified in the Plan absent further action. He emphasized the opportunity for the growth of the renewable energy sector, a sector that will hopefully receive additional support from Pennsylvania’s state government in the coming years. (Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget includes $225 million to be invested in renewables, conservation, and clean technology investments. It’s a relative drop in the bucket compared the $3.25 billion in state subsidies to the fossil fuels industry, but I digress.)

Business leaders attending the event signed postcards addressed to Senators Casey and Toomey supporting the Clean Power Plan as a means to reduce our carbon emissions and an opportunity to invest in a sustainable, clean energy economy. It’s critically important that we make our voices heard in support of good economic and environmental policy! 

Katie Bartolotta is southeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Philadelphia. She tweets @KatieBartolotta.

Video: Energy switching in six minutes: Part 2

Last week, we quizzed you about your energy supplier. Did you pass? If not, here's your chance.

Energy Switching Series,created by Nicole Catino for PennFuture

This week's energy switching video outlines how to swap your default supplier for a renewable energy supplier in three easy steps.

Pennsylvania's electricity supply is dominated by coal - a heavily polluting fossil fuel. Over the years, PennFuture has worked hard to control unhealthy pollution from coal emissions while also building a market for solar and wind electricity in the state. One victory on the latter front is the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS), which requires the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to generate a small percentage of electricity from wind and solar alongside other alternative sources. The AEPS, among other factors, has helped build a renewable energy market in our state, including 25 utility scale wind energy projects and over 8,000 large and small solar energy projects.

With renewable energy available, how can you make sure that you are powering your lights, computer and refrigerator without contributing to smog and climate change? Buy clean energy for your home or business. Watch the video to learn how.

Valessa Souter-Kline is western Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Pittsburgh. She tweets @ValessaSK.

Energy savings in Allegheny County – good for you AND the environment

Success! Black and Gold City Goes Green Neighborhood Blitz in Elliott

Last Saturday, ten courageous volunteers braved a rainy early- autumn morning to hand out energy-saving toolkits to residents in Elliott, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh’s West End. Luckily for us, the weather cleared up, the community was very receptive, and we handed out a total of 187 bags, making this one of the most successful blitzes PennFuture has organized over the past five years.

The collective energy savings from utilizing the contents of the bag (which includes CFL and LED light bulbs, LED night lights, smart power strips, window caulk, and more) is more than 730,000 pounds of CO2. That’s like taking 70 cars off the road or planting 8,546 trees. We are very grateful to the volunteers who helped accomplish this feat, to Chipotle Mexican Grill for nourishing our hard workers, and to Elliott Community Group for their support in organizing the event.

Sad you missed the Elliot Blitz? The following program summaries outline additional ways you can reduce your carbon footprint while helping to clean up Allegheny County's air.

Duquesne Light Home Energy Audit Program

Duquesne Light recently launched its Whole House Energy Audit Program (WHEAP), which provides a rebate for residential customers in single-family homes who get a professional audit of their home’s energy use. A typical home energy audit costs around $400 but this program allows you to get the same detailed analysis for only $149 after taking advantage of Duquesne Light’s Watt Choices $250 rebate. Further, if you meet the income-eligibility guidelines, you will receive the audit at no cost. Ensuring your house is properly insulated, installing efficient lighting, and that heating/cooling systems are functioning correctly will help you save money and reduce your energy use.

GTECH Healthy Homes

Looking to retrofit your home in order to make it more energy efficient? As part of its Healthy Homes Incentive Program (HHIP), GTECH Strategies is providing an additional $2,500 for home energy efficiency investments once you spend $5,000 or more. By being able to delve even deeper into energy improvements, you can ensure that your home is performing with the utmost quality and efficiency. GTECH’s terrific team will be there to help identify your needs, guide you through the energy efficiency marketplace, and help you choose a financing option that works for you.

Allegheny County Health Department – Wood Stove Bounty Collection event

Calling all Allegheny County residents who are owners of uncertified wood stoves or wood-fired boilers! You can get some ca$h by recycling your old appliances next Saturday, September 27 from 1-4pm at the Wave Pool Parking Lot, Boyce Park. The Allegheny County Health Department is organizing the collection event and they're offering $200 gift cards in exchange for uncertified wood stoves and $500 cash incentives for non-Phase-II compliant outdoor wood-fired boilers. In order to participate, you need to register in advance and be able to deliver and unload the stoves or boilers on your own.

Take advantage of these programs if you can and, if you can't, make sure you're using CFL light bulbs or, better yet, LEDs at home. The less energy we use, the less we need to generate.

Nicole Catino is PennFuture's 2014 Student Conservation Association Green Cities Sustainability Fellow and is based in Pittsburgh.

Clean Energy Wins: Post-primary edition

We now know which gubernatorial candidates will be representing the two major parties on November's ballot -- York businessman Tom Wolf and incumbent Governor Tom Corbett. 

Now that we're down to two, it's ever more essential that we make our voices heard so the next governor understands that an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians support clean energy. 

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of Clean Energy Wins -- a campaign geared toward the 2014 governor's race. 

The mission of Clean Energy Wins is simple: to engage bipartisan gubernatorial candidates, policymakers, clean energy businesses, and citizens about the economic, job creation, and environmental benefits of clean energy — and to identify practical policies that can be implemented to realize those benefits. 

In March, PennFuture released the Clean Energy Wins policy roadmap, a report that will help inform the state's next governor and the General Assembly about policies that can grow Pennsylvania’s clean energy economy. (It's a great read, I promise.). 

Since then, we have briefed gubernatorial candidates and policymakers of all political stripes on the roadmap, presented at events, and hosted virtual briefings on the report. There will be more to follow this summer and into the fall. 

But we can't do this without you. Please add your name to our Clean Energy Wins campaign and tell us why you are a clean energy voter.

Andrew Sharp is PennFuture's Director of Outreach and is based in our Philadelphia office. He tweets at @RexBainbridge.

Clean Energy Wins -- but we need your help.

Today, Cindy Dunn, president and CEO of PennFuture, announced the launch of Clean Energy Wins -- a campaign geared toward the 2014 governor's race. 

The mission of Clean Energy Wins is simple: to engage bipartisan gubernatorial candidates, bipartisan policymakers, clean energy businesses, and citizens about the economic, job creation, and environmental benefits of clean energy — and to identify practical policies that can be implemented to realize those benefits. 

An overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians support clean energy and we need to let gubernatorial candidates on both sides of the aisle know.

In March, PennFuture will release the Clean Energy Wins policy roadmap, a report that will help inform the state's next governor and the General Assembly about policies that can grow Pennsylvania’s clean energy economy.

We will also host a candidates' meet and greet in late March in Philadelphia as a vehicle for moving the conversation forward. 

But we can't do this without you. Please add your name to our Clean Energy Wins campaign and tell us why you are a clean energy voter.

Be sure to follow Clean Energy Wins on Facebook and Twitter.

Andrew Sharp is PennFuture's Director of Outreach and is based in our Philadelphia office.