5 surprising facts about renewable energy growth in Pennsylvania

According to Renewables on the Rise 2024, the eighth edition of our annual report on the state of clean energy in America, Pennsylvania now generates 371% more solar power than it did in 2014. This increase means that we can power an additional 80,530 average households each year with clean energy.

Here are five interesting facts about clean energy’s growth in Pennsylvania:

1. There are 64,631 all electric vehicles registered in Pennsylvania as of 2023.

There are more than 42 times as many EVs as there were in 2014. In 2023 alone, more than 17,000 more EVs were registered in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania is ranked 14th both in terms of total EVs and EV growth in the past 10 years.

2. Pennsylvania added 1,042 EV charging ports in 2023.

This was a 32% increase from 2022 and a 1012% increase from 2014. Pennsylvania now ranks 11th in the country in EV charging ports installed. With EV adoption expected to accelerate, there is still a need for further investment to ensure chargers are available when needed.

3. Pennsylvania generated more solar energy in 2023 alone than all solar generation before 2016 combined.

Pennsylvania produced 1,480 GWh of solar energy last year, up from 314 GWh in 2014. This was enough to bring us to 26th place in the national solar rankings. This progress is promising, but Pennsylvania ranks just 46th in percent increase in solar generation since 2014. We’ll need firmer commitments and investment to maximize solar potential in the future.

4. Pennsylvania had no reported battery storage capacity until 2016, now we’re 21st in the country.

As of 2023, Pennsylvania has installed 0.03 gigawatts of battery storage capacity. This ranks Pennsylvania 21st in the country. However, battery storage has not grown significantly in recent years. With falling energy storage costs and an increased need to integrate renewable energy into the grid, Pennsylvania needs to set out clearer targets to continue battery storage deployment.

5. Pennsylvania is generating 76% more wind energy than we did in 2010, but generation is down 8% over the past decade.

When looking at wind power over the past 15 years, Pennsylvania has shown significant progress. However, the bulk of investments in wind systems took place in the early 2010s. While it is worth acknowledging the growth wind has seen over the long-term, Pennsylvania needs to reaffirm its commitments to reignite wind development. Pennsylvania is ranked 21st in the country in wind generation.

Our clean energy growth has proven the viability and significance of these renewable energy sources. But there is still a lot of work to be done. By taking advantage of the opportunities to continue these trends, Pennsylvania can accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

What can state and local leaders do to speed up renewable energy growth? 

State and local governments can support renewable energy by:

• setting renewable energy goals with clear benchmarks
• leveraging federal resources to reach renewable energy goals. 
• ensuring that utility policies fairly compensate the owners of renewable energy technologies 
• support policies for permitting and interconnection that make adopting renewable energy technologies easier. 
• expand efficiency programs, including updating energy codes for buildings and adopting the latest appliance efficiency standards.

You can help renewable energy continue to grow in Pennsylvania by taking action below.