PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With a solar panel in the backdrop, the Philadelphia Energy Authority and city leadership on Monday kicked off the city’s fourth-annual Solar Week outside City Hall.
“We are celebrating the progress made towards the creation of a robust, equitable, clean energy economy,” said PEA Senior Director of Commerical Programs Matt Stern.
“2021 was the energy authority’s biggest year yet. We helped deploy $124 million in clean energy and energy efficient programs and supported the creation of 792 jobs. That brings our total for the 10-year energy campaign to $291 million and over 2,500 jobs created.“
More than 100 low- and moderate-income property owners have gone solar through Solarize Philly.
City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, the chair of the Committee on the Environment, shared how certain residents are disproportionately impacted by climate change, and how solar power is the key to a bright green future.
“Communities in Philadelphia, where we suffer with a 24% poverty rate, especially our low-income communities, deal directly with the consequences of climate change. That includes the health impacts and — particularly here in our city — the utility burden. Solar energy can help us address all of these challenges, reduces the need for dirtier, non-renewable energy, and supports cleaner air and reduced rates of asthma.”
She added that rooftop solar installations can also help create jobs while simultaneously fighting an environmental battle of the present which she said was reflected in July, one of the hottest months on record in America.
“We can no longer look at this as a problem or issue of the future,” she said. “This is a problem, an issue, a challenge of now. And we have to deal with it right now.”
“Solarize Philly provides an opportunity for every Philadelphian to help the City meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Saleem Chapman, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Philadelphia.
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“Solar energy not only protects Philadelphians against the impacts of the climate crisis, but also creates sustained and inclusive economic opportunities by reducing residents’ energy costs and creating career pathways in an emerging sector.”
Philadelphia resident Mike Doyle Jr., a Solarize Philly customer, said the program is not only giving him the tools to lower his energy bills, but it’s also helping to save the planet.
“We signed up in the spring. We got everything installed relatively quickly and by June, we received — at our house — a $50 bill. Not a $50 bill like the cash, but actually a bill from PECO for $50. In this summer of inflation, I couldn’t be happier to PECO for giving me a bill for $50, so thank you very much,” said Doyle.
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“Everybody who is challenged today with our economy, which is probably the entire city, can sign up with one of the companies providing solar possibilities, Not only will they see their bills go down, but we will be protecting our communities, our planet and most importantly the communities that are affected the most by environmental destruction. which are the communities of color.”
Douglas Davis’ company, Superior Solar Design, is partnering with Solarize Philly to install the solar panels.
“Solar can be installed on any type of roof,” Davis said. “Flat, asphalt, shingles, cedar, metal, whatever the case may be, anyone that has a roof on their home, they can get solar panels installed.”
The PEA has put together a full schedule of green energy events for homeowners and businesses.
Click the following links for more information.
- Solarize Philly
- Solar Week Events
