PECO Advances Local Solar Energy with Leadership of Successful Solar Stakeholder Collaborative
More than 85 people representing community organizations, environmental groups, solar companies, competitive electric suppliers, public officials, utilities and other stakeholders joined PECO yesterday in Philadelphia for the company’s Solar Stakeholder Collaborative. Announced on Earth Day 2016, PECO created and lead the Collaborative to work together to advance local solar energy for customers in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
“We all have something in common,” said PECO President and CEO Craig Adams during his kick-off remarks. “Each of us is here today because we share a commitment – a commitment to this region, a commitment to advancing solar energy, and a commitment to the neighborhoods and communities we serve. The group we have brought together is very diverse, and we need all of your voices to help shape what’s next. Today we will learn more about the important role each of us can play. Together I think we will do great things!”
The morning included an overview of solar initiatives across the nation, the regulatory framework in Pennsylvania, and perspectives from a solar developer. During the afternoon, attendees worked in break-out sessions focusing on Low Income Solar, Private Solar, Universal Solar, and Solar Job Creation.Highlights from the Collaborative included discussions on opportunities to streamline processes on how to interconnect to the regional distribution system, Federal and State policies, workforce development opportunities, making solar more economical and accessible to all customers, connecting energy efficiency and solar and enhancing renewable energy credit incentives.
PECO and the Exelon family of companies are proven environmental leaders. Specifically, Exelon has developed more than 450 megawatts of utility and distributed solar. Constellation, Exelon’s competitive retail and wholesale energy supplier, is the third largest commercial developer in the state – developing more than 72 commercial, industrial and governmental customer solar installations, totaling more than 200 MW of capacity. Locally, PECO already supports more than 3,000 customers who have chosen to add solar and other sources of generation to their homes and businesses, and purchases about 12.5 MW of solar generated electricity each year, 70 percent of which is generated right here in Pennsylvania. In total, this is enough solar energy to power 83,000 homes each year.
